their lamentations.

Now when the violent storms and floods had been observed immediately
after his departure, the destruction of the handsome stranger became
all but certain; even Bertalda had openly discovered her sorrow, and
detested herself for having been the cause of his taking that fatal
excursion into the forest. Her foster-parents, the duke and duchess,
had meanwhile come to take her away; but Bertalda persuaded them to
remain with her until some certain news of Huldbrand should be
obtained, whether he were living or dead. She endeavoured also to
prevail upon several young knights, who were assiduous in courting
her favour, to go in quest of the noble adventurer in the forest.
But she refused to pledge her hand as the reward of the enterprise,
because she still cherished, it might be, a hope of its being claimed
by the returning knight; and no one would consent, for a glove, a
riband, or even a kiss, to expose his life to bring back so very
dangerous a rival.

When Huldbrand now made his sudden and unexpected appearance, his
attendants, the inhabitants of the city, and almost every one
rejoiced. This was not the case with Bertalda; for although it might
be quite a welcome event to others that he brought with him a wife of
such exquisite loveliness, and Father Heilmann as a witness of their
marriage, Bertalda could not but view the affair with grief and
vexation. She had, in truth, become attached to the young knight
with her whole soul; and her mourning for his absence, or supposed
death, had shown this more than she could now have wished.

But notwithstanding all this, she conducted herself like a wise
maiden in circumstances of such delicacy, and lived on the most