At least, I can promise you that if I again reach an inhabited country, I will find out the owner of this wine or his heirs, and make double and triple reimbursement." The old man was gratified with this assurance; he gave the knight a nod of approbation, and now drained his cup with an easier conscience and more relish.
Undine, however, said to Huldbrand: "As to the repayment and your gold, you may do whatever you like.

But what you said about your venturing out, and searching, and exposing yourself to danger, appears to me far from wise.

I should cry my very eyes out, should you perish in such a wild attempt; and is it not true that you would prefer staying here with me and the good wine ?" "Most assuredly," answered Huldbrand, smiling.
"Then, you see," replied Undine, "you spoke unwisely.

For charity begins at home; and why need we trouble ourselves about our neighbours ?" The mistress of the house turned away from her, sighing and shaking her head; while the fisherman forgot his wonted indulgence toward the graceful maiden, and thus rebuked her: "That sounds exactly as if you had been brought up by heathens and Turks;" and he finished his reproof by adding, "May God forgive both me and you--unfeeling child!" "Well, say what you will, that is what I think and feel," replied Undine, "whoever brought me up; and all your talking cannot help it." "Silence!" exclaimed the fisherman, in a voice of stern rebuke; and she, who with all her wild spirit was extremely alive to fear, shrank from him, moved close up to Huldbrand, trembling, and said very softly: "Are you also angry, dear friend ?" The knight pressed her soft hand, and tenderly stroked her locks.

He was unable to utter a word, for his vexation, arising from the old man's severity towards Undine, closed his lips; and thus the two couples sat opposite to each other, at once heated with anger and in embarrassed silence.
In the midst of this stillness a low knocking at the door startled them all; for there are times when a slight circumstance, coming unexpectedly upon us, startles us like something supernatural.