When fully awake, he had thought over this connection. He reproached
himself for any doubt that could lead him into error in regard to his
lovely wife. He also confessed to her his injustice; but she only
gave him her fair hand, sighed deeply, and remained silent. Yet a
glance of fervent tenderness, an expression of the soul beaming in
her eyes, such as he had never witnessed there before, left him in
undoubted assurance that Undine bore him no ill-will.

He then rose joyfully, and leaving her, went to the common apartment,
where the inmates of the house had already met. The three were
sitting round the hearth with an air of anxiety about them, as if
they feared trusting themselves to raise their voice above a low,
apprehensive undertone. The priest appeared to be praying in his
inmost spirit, with a view to avert some fatal calamity. But when
they observed the young husband come forth so cheerful, they
dispelled the cloud that remained upon their brows: the old fisherman
even began to laugh with the knight till his aged wife herself could
not help smiling with great good-humour.

Undine had in the meantime got ready, and now entered the room; all
rose to meet her, but remained fixed in perfect admiration--she was
so changed, and yet the same. The priest, with paternal affection
beaming from his countenance, first went up to her; and as he raised
his hand to pronounce a blessing, the beautiful bride sank on her
knees before him with religious awe; she begged his pardon in terms
both respectful and submissive for any foolish things she might have
uttered the evening before, and entreated him with emotion to pray
for the welfare of her soul. She then rose, kissed her foster-
parents, and, after thanking them for all the kindness they had shown