He would have burst forth in uncontrolled imprecations had not Undine said to him with a humble manner and a softly imploring tone: "For God's sake, my husband, we are on the water, do not be angry with me now." The knight was silent, and sat down absorbed in revery.

Undine whispered in his ear: "Would it not be better, my love, if we gave up this foolish journey, and returned to castle Ringstetten in peace ?" But Huldbrand murmured moodily: "So I must be a prisoner in my own castle, and only be able to breathe so long as the fountain is closed! I would your mad kindred"-- Undine lovingly pressed her fair hand upon his lips.

He paused, pondering in silence over much that Undine had before said to him.
Bertalda had meanwhile given herself up to a variety of strange thoughts.

She knew a good deal of Undine's origin, and yet not the whole, and the fearful Kuhleborn especially had remained to her a terrible but wholly unrevealed mystery.

She had indeed never even heard his name.