Page:Undine (Lumley).djvu/56

 UNDINE. 21

daughter of one of the powerful dukes of this country. She too, I observed, was gazing at me ; and the conse- quences were such as we young knights are wont to expe- rience ; whatever success in riding I might have had before, I was now favoured with still better fortune. That evening I was Bertalda's partner in the dance, and T enjoyed the same distinction during the remainder of the festival."

A sharp pain in his left hand, as it hung carelessly be- side him, here interrupted Huldbrand's relation, and drew his eye to the part affected. Undine had fastened her pearly teeth, and not without some keenness too, upon one of his fingers, appearing at the same time verj'^ gloomy and displeased. On a sudden, however, she looked up in his eyes with an expression of tender melancholy, and whisjiered almost inaudibly, —

" It is all your own fault."

She then covered her face ; and the knight, strangely embarrassed and thoughtful, went on with his story:

" This lady Bertalda of whom I spoke is of a proud and wayward spirit. The second day I saw her she plea- sed me by no means so much as she had the first, and the third day still less. But I continued about her because she shewed me more favour than she did any other knight: and it so happened that I playfully asked her to give me one of her gloves. ' When you have entered the haunted forest all alone,' said she ; ' when you have explored its wonders, and brought me a full account of them, the glove is yours.' As to getting her glove, it was of no importance to me whatever ; but the word had been spoken, and no honourable knight would permit himself to be urged to such a proof of valour a second time."

" I thought," said Undine, interrupting him, " that she loved you."

" It did appear so," replied Huldbrand.

" Well !" exclaimed the maiden, laughing, " this is beyond belief; she must be very stupid. To drive from her one who was dear to her! And, worse than all, into