Some of the military escort were so daring as to address the figure, and to attempt to remove it from the procession; but she seemed to vanish from under their hands, and yet was immediately seen advancing again amid the dismal cortege with slow and solemn step.

At length, in consequence of the continued shrinking of the attendants to the right and to the left, she came close behind Bertalda.

The figure now moved so slowly that the widow did not perceive it, and it walked meekly and humbly behind her undisturbed.
This lasted till they came to the churchyard, where the procession formed a circle round the open grave.

Then Bertalda saw her unbidden companion, and starting up half in anger and half in terror, she commanded her to leave the knight's last resting-place.

The veiled figure, however, gently shook her head in refusal, and raised her hands as if in humble supplication to Bertalda, deeply agitating her by the action, and recalling to her with tears how Undine had so kindly wished to give her that coral necklace on the Danube.