But the event was the very reverse of what he expected; for, after looking at him for a long while, she became more confident, moved nearer, knelt down before him, and while she played with a gold medal which he wore attached to a rich chain on his breast, exclaimed, "Why, you beautiful, you kind guest! how have you reached our poor cottage at last?
Have you been obliged for years and years to wander about the world before you could catch one glimpse of our nook?
Do you come out of that wild forest, my beautiful knight ?" The old woman was so prompt in her reproof as to allow him no time to answer.

She commanded the maiden to rise, show better manners, and go to her work.

But Undine, without making any reply, drew a little footstool near Huldbrand's chair, sat down upon it with her netting, and said in a gentle tone-- "I will work here." The old man did as parents are apt to do with children to whom they have been over-indulgent.

He affected to observe nothing of Undine's strange behaviour, and was beginning to talk about something else.

But this the maiden did not permit him to do.