But he exclaimed: "By my unsullied honour, old father, if I knew
where to find and rescue him, no fear of exposure 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 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