CHAPTER VII.
WHAT FURTHER HAPPENED ON THE EVENING OF THE WEDDING.
Both before and during the ceremony, Undine had shown herself gentleand quiet; but it now seemed as if all the wayward humors whichrioted within her, burst forth all the more boldly and unrestrainedly.She teased her bridegroom and her foster-parents, and even theholy man whom she had so lately reverenced, with all sorts ofchildish tricks; and when the old woman was about to reprove her,she was quickly silenced by a few grave words from the knight,speaking of Undine now as his wife. Nevertheless, the knighthimself was equally little pleased with Undine's childish behavior:but no signs, and no reproachful words were of any avail. It istrue, whenever the bride noticed her husband's dissatisfaction--andthis occurred occasionally--she became more quiet, sat down by hisside, caressed him, whispered something smilingly into his ear, andsmoothed the wrinkles that were gathering on his brow. Butimmediately afterward, some wild freak would again lead her toreturn to her ridiculous proceedings, and matters would be worsethan before. At length the priest said in a serious and kind tone:"My fair young maiden, no one indeed can look at you withoutdelight; but remember so to attune your soul betimes, that it mayever harmonize with that of your wedded husband."
"Soul!" said Undine, laughing; "that sounds pretty enough, and maybe a very edifying and useful caution for most people. But when onehasn't a soul at all, I beg you, what is there to attune then? andthat is my case." The priest was silent and deeply wounded, and withholy displeasure he turned his face from the girl. She, however,went up to him caressingly, and said: "No! listen to me first,before you look angry, for your look of anger gives me pain, and youmust not give pain to any creature who has done you no wrong--onlyhave patience with me, and I will tell you properly what I mean."
It was evident that she was preparing herself to explain somethingin detail, but suddenly she hesitated, as if seized with an inwardshuddering, and burst out into a flood of tears. They none of themknew what to make of this ebullition, and filled with variousapprehensions they gazed at her in silence. At length, wiping awayher tears, and looking earnestly at the reverend man, she said:"There must be something beautiful, but at the same time extremelyawful, about a soul. Tell me, holy sir, were it not better that wenever shared such a gift?" She was silent again as if waiting for ananswer, and her tears had ceased to flow. All in the cottage hadrisen from their seats and had stepped back from her with horror.She, however, seemed to have eyes for no one but the holy man; herfeatures wore an expression of fearful curiosity, which appearedterrible to those who saw her. "The soul must be a heavy burden,"she continued, as no one answered her, "very heavy! for even itsapproaching image overshadows me with anxiety and sadness. And, ah!I was so light-hearted and so merry till now!" And she burst into afresh flood of tears, and covered her face with the drapery shewore. Then the priest went up to her with a solemn air, and spoke toher, and conjured her by the name of the Most Holy to cast aside theveil that enveloped her, if any spirit of evil possessed her. Butshe sank on her knees before him, repeating all the sacred words heuttered, praising God, and protesting that she wished well with thewhole world.
Then at last the priest said to the knight: "Sir bridegroom, I willleave you alone with her whom I have united to you in marriage. Sofar as I can discover there is nothing of evil in her, but muchindeed that is mysterious. I commend to you--prudence, love, andfidelity." So saying, he went out, and the fisherman and his wifefollowed him, crossing themselves.
Undine had sunk on her knees: she unveiled her face and said,looking timidly round on Huldbrand: "Alas! you will surely now notkeep me as your own; and yet I have done no evil, poor child that Iam!" As she said this, she looked so exquisitely graceful andtouching, that her bridegroom forgot all the horror he had felt, andall the mystery that clung to her, and hastening to her he raisedher in his arms. She smiled through her tears; it was a smile likethe morning-light playing on a little stream.
"You cannot leave me," she whispered, with confident security,stroking the knight's cheek with her tender hand. Huldbrand tried todismiss the fearful thoughts that still lurked in the background ofhis mind, persuading him that he was married to a fairy or to somemalicious and mischievous being of the spirit world, only the singlequestion half unawares escaped his lips: "My little Undine, tell methis one thing, what was it you said of spirits of the earth and ofKuhleborn, when the priest knocked at the door?"
"It was nothing but fairy tales!--children's fairy tales!" saidUndine, with all her wonted gayety; "I frightened you at first withthem, and then you frightened me, that's the end of our story and ofour nuptial evening."
"Nay! that it isn't," said the knight, intoxicated with love, andextinguishing the tapers, he bore his beautiful beloved to thebridal chamber by the light of the moon which shone brightly throughthe windows.