undine-第7部分

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strange　people　after　all。　Why　did　you　tell　me　you　were　the　only
people　here　on　the　island？　and　during　the　whole　ceremony；　a　tall
stately　man；　in　a　white　mantle；　has　been　looking　at　me　through　the
window　opposite。　He　must　still　be　standing　before　the　door；　to　see
if　you　will　invite　him　to　come　into　the　house。〃

〃God　forbid；〃　said　the　old　dame　with　a　start；　the　fisherman　shook
his　head　in　silence；　and　Huldbrand　sprang　to　the　window。　It　seemed
even　to　him　as　if　he　could　still　see　a　white　streak；　but　it　soon
completely　disappeared　in　the　darkness。　He　convinced　the　priest　that
he　must　have　been　absolutely　mistaken；　and　they　all　sat　down
together　round　the　hearth。




CHAPTER　VII。

WHAT　FURTHER　HAPPENED　ON　THE　EVENING　OF　THE　WEDDING。


Both　before　and　during　the　ceremony；　Undine　had　shown　herself　gentle
and　quiet；　but　it　now　seemed　as　if　all　the　wayward　humors　which
rioted　within　her；　burst　forth　all　the　more　boldly　and
unrestrainedly。　She　teased　her　bridegroom　and　her　foster…parents；
and　even　the　holy　man　whom　she　had　so　lately　reverenced；　with　all
sorts　of　childish　tricks；　and　when　the　old　woman　was　about　to
reprove　her；　she　was　quickly　silenced　by　a　few　grave　words　from　the
knight；　speaking　of　Undine　now　as　his　wife。　Nevertheless；　the　knight
himself　was　equally　little　pleased　with　Undine's　childish　behavior：
but　no　signs；　and　no　reproachful　words　were　of　any　avail。　It　is
true；　whenever　the　bride　noticed　her　husband's　dissatisfactionand
this　occurred　occasionallyshe　became　more　quiet；　sat　down　by　his
side；　caressed　him；　whispered　something　smilingly　into　his　ear；　and
smoothed　the　wrinkles　that　were　gathering　on　his　brow。　But
immediately　afterward；　some　wild　freak　would　again　lead　her　to
return　to　her　ridiculous　proceedings；　and　matters　would　be　worse
than　before。　At　length　the　priest　said　in　a　serious　and　kind　tone：
〃My　fair　young　maiden；　no　one　indeed　can　look　at　you　without
delight；　but　remember　so　to　attune　your　soul　betimes；　that　it　may
ever　harmonize　with　that　of　your　wedded　husband。〃

〃Soul！〃　said　Undine；　laughing；　〃that　sounds　pretty　enough；　and　may
be　a　very　edifying　and　useful　caution　for　most　people。　But　when　one
hasn't　a　soul　at　all；　I　beg　you；　what　is　there　to　attune　then？　and
that　is　my　case。〃　The　priest　was　silent　and　deeply　wounded；　and　with
holy　displeasure　he　turned　his　face　from　the　girl。　She；　however；
went　up　to　him　caressingly；　and　said：　〃No！　listen　to　me　first；
before　you　look　angry；　for　your　look　of　anger　gives　me　pain；　and　you
must　not　give　pain　to　any　creature　who　has　done　you　no　wrongonly
have　patience　with　me；　and　I　will　tell　you　properly　what　I　mean。〃

It　was　evident　that　she　was　preparing　herself　to　explain　something
in　detail；　but　suddenly　she　hesitated；　as　if　seized　with　an　inward
shuddering；　and　burst　out　into　a　flood　of　tears。　They　none　of　them
knew　what　to　make　of　this　ebullition；　and　filled　with　various
apprehensions　they　gazed　at　her　in　silence。　At　length；　wiping　away
her　tears；　and　looking　earnestly　at　the　reverend　man；　she　said：
〃There　must　be　something　beautiful；　but　at　the　same　time　extremely
awful；　about　a　soul。　Tell　me；　holy　sir；　were　it　not　better　that　we
never　shared　such　a　gift？〃　She　was　silent　again　as　if　waiting　for　an
answer；　and　her　tears　had　ceased　to　flow。　All　in　the　cottage　had
risen　from　their　seats　and　had　stepped　back　from　her　with　horror。
She；　however；　seemed　to　have　eyes　for　no　one　but　the　holy　man；　her
features　wore　an　expression　of　fearful　curiosity；　which　appeared
terrible　to　those　who　saw　her。　〃The　soul　must　be　a　heavy　burden；〃
she　continued；　as　no　one　answered　her；　〃very　heavy！　for　even　its
approaching　image　overshadows　me　with　anxiety　and　sadness。　And；　ah！
I　was　so　light…hearted　and　so　merry　till　now！〃　And　she　burst　into　a
fresh　flood　of　tears；　and　covered　her　face　with　the　drapery　she
wore。　Then　the　priest　went　up　to　her　with　a　solemn　air；　and　spoke　to
her；　and　conjured　her　by　the　name　of　the　Most　Holy　to　cast　aside　the
veil　that　enveloped　her；　if　any　spirit　of　evil　possessed　her。　But
she　sank　on　her　knees　before　him；　repeating　all　the　sacred　words　he
uttered；　praising　God；　and　protesting　that　she　wished　well　with　the
whole　world。

Then　at　last　the　priest　said　to　the　knight：　〃Sir　bridegroom；　I　will
leave　you　alone　with　her　whom　I　have　united　to　you　in　marriage。　So
far　as　I　can　discover　there　is　nothing　of　evil　in　her；　but　much
indeed　that　is　mysterious。　I　commend　to　youprudence；　love；　and
fidelity。〃　So　saying；　he　went　out；　and　the　fisherman　and　his　wife
followed　him；　crossing　themselves。

Undine　had　sunk　on　her　knees：　she　unveiled　her　face　and　said；
looking　timidly　round　on　Huldbrand：　〃Alas！　you　will　surely　now　not
keep　me　as　your　own；　and　yet　I　have　done　no　evil；　poor　child　that　I
am！〃　As　she　said　this；　she　looked　so　exquisitely　graceful　and
touching；　that　her　bridegroom　forgot　all　the　horror　he　had　felt；　and
all　the　mystery　that　clung　to　her；　and　hastening　to　her　he　raised
her　in　his　arms。　She　smiled　through　her　tears；　it　was　a　smile　like
the　morning…light　playing　on　a　little　stream。

〃You　cannot　leave　me；〃　she　whispered；　with　confident　security；
stroking　the　knight's　cheek　with　her　tender　hand。　Huldbrand　tried　to
dismiss　the　fearful　thoughts　that　still　lurked　in　the　background　of
his　mind；　persuading　him　that　he　was　married　to　a　fairy　or　to　some
malicious　and　mischievous　being　of　the　spirit　world；　only　the　single
question　half　unawares　escaped　his　lips：　〃My　little　Undine；　tell　me
this　one　thing；　what　was　it　you　said　of　spirits　of　the　earth　and　of
Kuhleborn；　when　the　priest　knocked　at　the　door？〃

〃It　was　nothing　but　fairy　tales！children's　fairy　tales！〃　said
Undine；　with　all　her　wonted　gayety；　〃I　frightened　you　at　first　with
them；　and　then　you　frightened　me；　that's　the　end　of　our　story　and　of
our　nuptial　evening。〃

〃Nay！　that　it　isn't；〃　said　the　knight；　intoxicated　with　love；　and
extinguishing　the　tapers；　he　bore　his　beautiful　beloved　to　the
bridal　chamber　by　the　light　of　the　moon　which　shone　brightly　through
the　windows。




CHAPTER　VIII。

THE　DAY　AFTER　THE　WEDDING。


The　fresh　light　of　the　morning　awoke　the　young　married　pair。
Wonderful　and　horrible　dreams　had　disturbed　Huldbrand's　rest；　he　had
been　haunted　by　spectres；　who；　grinning　at　him　by　stealth；　had　tried
to　disguise　themselves　as　beautiful　women；　and　from　beautiful　women
they　all　at　once　assumed　the　faces　of　dragons；　and　when　he　started
up　from　these　hideous　visions；　the　moonlight　shone　pale　and　cold
into　the　room；　terrified　he　looked　at　Undine；　who　still　lay　in
unaltered　beauty　and　grace。　Then　he　would　press　a　light　kiss　upon
her　rosy　lips；　and　would　fall　asleep　again　only　to　be　awakened　by
new　terrors。　After　he　had　reflected　on　all　this；　now　that　he　was
fully　awake；　he　reproached　himself　for　any　doubt　that　could　have　led
him　into　error　with　regard　to　his　beautiful　wife。　He　begged　her　to
forgive　him　for　the　injustice　he　had　done　her；　but　she　only　held　out
to　him　her　fair　hand；　sighed　deeply；　and　remained　silent。　But　a
glance　of　exquisite　fervor　beamed　from　her　eyes　such　as　he　had　never
seen　before；　carrying　with　it　the　full　assurance　that　Undine　bore
him　no　ill…will。　He　then　rose　cheerfully　and　left　her；　to　join　his
friends　in　the　common　apartment。

He　found　the　three　sitting　round　the　hearth；　with　an　air　of　anxiety
about　them；　as　if　they　dared　not　venture　to　speak　aloud。　The　priest
seemed　to　be　praying　in　his　inmost　spirit　that　all　evil　might　be
averted。　When；　however；　they　saw　the　young　husband　come　forth　so
cheerfully　the　careworn　expression　of　their　faces　vanished。

The　old　fisherman　even　began　to　jest　with　the　knight；　so　pleasantly；
that　the　aged　wife　smiled　good…humoredly　as　she　listened　to　them。
Undine　at　length　made　her　appearance。　All　rose　to　meet　her　and　all
stood　still　with　surprise；　for　the　young　wife　seemed　so　strange　to
them　and　yet　the　same。　The　priest　was　the　first　to　advance　toward
her　with　paternal　arms　affection　beaming　in　his　face；　and；　as　he
raised　his　hand　to　bless　her；　the　beautiful　woman　sank　reverently　on
her　knees　before　him。　With　a　few　humble　and　gracious　words　she
begged　him　to　forgive　her　for　any　foolish　things　she　might　have　said
the　evening　before；　and　entreated　him　in　an　agitated　tone　to　pray
for　the　welfare　of　her　soul。　She　then　rose；　kissed　her　foster…
parents；　and　thanking　them　for　all　the　goodness　they　had　shown　her；
she　exclaimed：　〃Oh！　I　now　feel　in　my　innermost　heart；　how　much；　how
infinitely　much；　you　have　done　for　me；　dear；　kind　people！〃　She　could
not　at　first　desist　from　her　caresses；　but　scarcely　had　she
perceived　that　the　old　woman　was　busy　in　preparing　breakfast；　than
she　went　to　the　hearth；　cooked　and　arranged　the　meal；　and　would　not
suffer　the　good　old　mother　to　take　the　least　trouble。

She　continued　thus　throughout　the　whole　day；　quiet；　kind；　and
attentiveat　once　a　little　matron　and　a　tender；　bashful　girl。　The
three　who　had　known　her　longest　expected　every　moment　to　see　some
whimsical　vagary　of　her　capricious　spirit　burst　forth。　But　they
waited　in　vain　for　it。　Undine　remained　as　mild　and　gentle　as　an
angel。　The　holy　father　could　not　take　his　eyes　from　her；　and　he　said
repeatedly　to　the　bridegroom：　〃The　goodness　of　heaven；　sir；　has
intrusted　a　treasure　to　you　yesterday　through　me；　unworthy　as　I　am；
cherish　it　as　you　ought；　and　it　will　promote　your　temporal　and
eternal　welfare。〃

Toward　evening　Undine　was　hanging　on　the　knight's　arm　with　humble
tenderness；　and　drew　him　gently　out　of　the　door；　where　the　declining
sun　was　shining　pleasantly　on　the　fresh　grass；　and　upon　the　tall；
slender　stems　of　the　trees。　The　eyes　of　the　young　wife　were　moist；
as　with　the　dew　of　sadness　and　love；　and　a　tender　and　fearful　secret
seemed　hovering　on　her　lips；　which；　however；　was　only　disclosed　by
scarcely　audible　sighs。　She　led　her　husband　onward　and　onward　in
silence；　when　he　spoke；　she　only　answered　him　with　looks；　in　which；
it　is　true；　there　lay　no　direct　reply　to　his　inquiries；　but　whole
heaven　of　love　and　timid　devotion。　Thus　they　reached　the　edge　of　the
swollen　forest　stream；　and　the　knight　was　astonished　to　see　it
rippling　along　in　gentle　waves；　without　a　trace　of　its　former
wildness　and　swell。　〃By　the　mornin