Undine leaned thoughtfully over it, and wrote with her beautiful fingers on its surface.

She must, however, have had something very sharp and cutting in her hand, for when she turned away, and the servants drew near to examine the stone, they perceived various strange characters upon it, which none of them had seen there before.
Bertalda received the knight, on his return home in the evening, with tears and complaints of Undine's conduct.

He cast a serious look at his poor wife, and she looked down as if distressed.

Yet she said with great composure: "My lord and husband does not reprove even a bondslave without a hearing, how much less then, his wedded wife ?" "Speak," said the knight with a gloomy countenance, "what induced you to act so strangely ?" "I should like to tell you when we are quite alone," sighed Undine.
"You can tell me just as well in Bertalda's presence," was the rejoinder.
"Yes, if you command me," said Undine; "but command it not.

Oh pray, pray command it not!" She looked so humble, so sweet, and obedient, that the knight's heart felt a passing gleam from better times.