UNDINE. 31
over this rich gift, while he to whom it first belonged, and from whom it was wrested by the fury of the stream, must there also, it is more than probable, have lost his life."
" No such thing," said Undine, smiling, as she filled the knight's cup to the brim.
But he exclaimed : " By my unsullied honour, old father, if I knew where to find and rescue him, no fear of expo- sure to the night, nor any peril, should deter me from making the attempt. At least, I can promise you that if I again reach an inhabited country, I will find out the owner of tliis 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 re- payment and your gold, you may do whatever you like. But what you said about your venturing out, and search- ing, 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 un- wisely. For charity begins at home; and why need we trouble ourselves about our neighbours ?"
The mistress of the house turned away from her, sigh- ing 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 / think and feel," replied Undine, " Avhoever brought me up ; and all your talking cannot help it."
