"What, then, dear Undine, did the master of the fountain wish to say
to you?"

Undine laughed within herself, and made answer: "The day after to-
morrow, my dear child, when the anniversary of your name-day returns,
you shall be informed." And this was all she could be prevailed upon
to disclose. She merely asked Bertalda to dinner on the appointed
day, and requested her to invite her foster-parents; and soon
afterwards they separated.

"Kuhleborn?" said Huldbrand to his lovely wife, with an inward
shudder when they had taken leave of Bertalda, and were now going
home through the darkening streets.

"Yes, it was he," answered Undine; "and he would have wearied me with
his foolish warnings. But, in the midst, quite contrary to his
intentions, he delighted me with a most welcome piece of news. If
you, my dear lord and husband, wish me to acquaint you with it now,
you need only command me, and I will freely and from my heart tell
you all without reserve. But would you confer upon your Undine a
very, very great pleasure, wait till the day after to-morrow, and
then you too shall have your share of the surprise."

The knight was quite willing to gratify his wife in what she had
asked so sweetly. And even as she was falling asleep, she murmured
to herself, with a smile: "How she will rejoice and be astonished at
what her master of the fountain has told me!--dear, dear Bertalda!"