undine-第17部分

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the　unfortunate　couple　was　fleeing　from　the　gates　overwhelmed　with
fear　and　terror。

〃It　is　well；〃　replied　Heilmann；　when　he　was　informed　of　this；　〃now
my　duties　begin；　and　I　need　no　associate。〃

Upon　this　he　began　to　console　the　bride；　now　a　widow；　small　result
as　it　produced　upon　her　worldly　thoughtless　mind。　The　old　fisherman；
on　the　other　hand；　although　heartily　grieved；　was　far　more　resigned
to　the　fate　which　had　befallen　his　daughter　and　son…in…law；　and
while　Bertalda　could　not　refrain　from　abusing　Undine　as　a　murderess
and　sorceress；　the　old　man　calmly　said：　〃It　could　not　be　otherwise
after　all；　I　see　nothing　in　it　but　the　judgment　of　God；　and　no　one's
heart　has　been　more　deeply　grieved　by　Huldbrand's　death　than　that　of
her　by　whom　it　was　inflictedthe　poor　forsaken　Undine！〃

At　the　same　time　he　assisted　in　arranging　the　funeral　solemnities　as
befitted　the　rank　of　the　deceased。

The　knight　was　to　be　interred　in　the　village　churchyard　which　was
filled　with　the　graves　of　his　ancestors。　And　this　church　had　been
endowed　with　rich　privileges　and　gifts　both　by　these　ancestors　and
by　himself。　His　shield　and　helmet　lay　already　on　the　coffin；　to　be
lowered　with　it　into　the　grave；　for　Sir　Huldbrand；　of　Ringstetten；
had　died　the　last　of　his　race；　the　mourners　began　their　sorrowful
march；　singing　requiems　under　the　bright；　calm　canopy　of　heaven；
Father　Heilmann　walked　in　advance；　bearing　a　high　crucifix；　and　the
inconsolable　Bertalda　followed；　supported　by　her　aged　father。
Suddenly；　in　the　midst　of　the　black…robed　attendants　in　the　widow's
train；　a　snow…white　figure　was　seen；　closely　veiled；　and　wringing
her　hands　with　fervent　sorrow。　Those　near　whom　she　moved　felt　a
secret　dread；　and　retreated　either　backward　or　to　the　side；
increasing　by　their　movements　the　alarm　of　the　others　near　to　whom
the　white　stranger　was　now　advancing；　and　thus　a　confusion　in　the
funeral…train　was　well…nigh　beginning。　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。　Father
Heilmann　motioned　with　his　hand　and　commanded　silence；　as　they　were
to　pray　in　mute　devotion　over　the　body；　which　they　were　now　covering
with　the　earth。　Bertalda　knelt　silently；　and　all　knelt；　even　the
grave…diggers　among　the　rest；　when　they　had　finished　their　task。　But
when　they　rose　again；　the　white　stranger　had　vanished；　on　the　spot
where　she　had　knelt　there　gushed　out　of　the　turf　a　little　silver
spring；　which　rippled　and　murmured　away　till　it　had　almost　entirely
encircled　the　knight's　grave；　then　it　ran　further　and　emptied　itself
into　a　lake　which　lay　by　the　side　of　the　burial…place。　Even　to　this
day　the　inhabitants　of　the　village　show　the　spring；　and　cherish　the
belief　that　it　is　the　poor　rejected　Undine；　who　in　this　manner　still
embraces　her　husband　in　her　loving　arms。







End