Only think yourself what I was yesterday morning, yesterday at the beginning of your banquet, and what I am now!" Her voice became stifled with a passionate flood of tears, and Undine, also weeping bitterly, fell on her neck.

It was some time before the deeply agitated Undine could utter a word; at length she said:-- "You can go with us to Ringstetten; everything shall remain as it was arranged before; only do not speak to me again as 'noble lady.' You see, we were exchanged for each other as children; our faces even then sprang as it were from the same stem, and we will now so strengthen this kindred destiny that no human power shall be able to separate it.

Only, first of all, come with us to Ringstetten.

We will discuss there how we shall share all things as sisters." Bertalda looked timidly toward Huldbrand.

He pitied the beautiful girl in her distress, and offering her his hand he begged her tenderly to intrust herself with him and his wife.