So he lifted up his voice in prayer: "Let all good spirits praise the Lord God!" "I am no spectre," said Undine, with a smile.

"Do I look so very frightful?
And you see that I do not shrink from holy words.

I too have knowledge of God, and understand the duty of praising Him; every one, to be sure, has his own way of doing this, for so He has created us.

Come in, father; you will find none but worthy people here." The holy man came bowing in, and cast round a glance of scrutiny, wearing at the same time a very placid and venerable air.

But water was dropping from every fold of his dark garments, from his long white beard and the white locks of his hair.