He kindly placed her arm within his own, and led her to his apartment, when she began to speak as follows:-- "You already know, my beloved lord, something of my evil uncle, Kuhleborn, and you have frequently been displeased at meeting him in the galleries of this castle.

He has several times frightened Bertalda into illness.

This is because he is devoid of soul, a mere elemental mirror of the outward world, without the power of reflecting the world within.

He sees, too, sometimes, that you are dissatisfied with me; that I, in my childishness, am weeping at this, and that Bertalda perhaps is at the very same moment laughing.
Hence he imagines various discrepancies in our home life, and in many ways mixes unbidden with our circle.

What is the good of reproving him?
What is the use of sending him angrily away?
He does not believe a word I say.