CHAPTER 5



Next morning, when Huldbrand awoke from slumber, and perceived that
his beautiful wife was not by his side, he began to give way again to
his wild imaginations--that his marriage, and even the lovely Undine
herself, were only shadows without substance--only mere illusions of
enchantment. But she entered the door at the same moment, kissed
him, seated herself on the bed by his side, and said:

"I have been out somewhat early this morning, to see whether my uncle
keeps his word. He has already restored the waters of the flood to
his own calm channel, and he now flows through the forest a rivulet
as before, in a lonely and dreamlike current. His friends, too, both
of the water and the air, have resumed their usual peaceful tenor;
all will again proceed with order and tranquillity; and you can
travel homeward, without fear of the flood, whenever you choose."

It seemed to the mind of Huldbrand that he must be in some waking
dream, so little was he able to understand the nature of his wife's
strange relative. Notwithstanding this he made no remark upon what
she had told him, and her surpassing loveliness soon lulled every
misgiving and discomfort to rest.

Some time afterwards, while he was standing with her before the door,
and surveying the verdant point of land, with its boundary of bright
waters, such a feeling of bliss came over him in this cradle of his
love, that he exclaimed: