IN WHAT WAY UNDINE HAD COME TO THE FISHERMAN Huldbrand and the fisherman sprang from their seats and were on the point of following the angry girl.

Before they reached the cottage door, however, Undine had long vanished in the shadowy darkness without, and not even the sound of her light footstep betrayed the direction of her flight.

Huldbrand looked inquiringly at his host; it almost seemed to him as if the whole sweet apparition, which had suddenly merged again into the night, were nothing else than one of that band of the wonderful forms which had, but a short time since, carried on their pranks with him in the forest.

But the old man murmured between his teeth: "This is not the first time that she has treated us in this way.

Now we have aching hearts and sleepless eyes the whole night through; for who knows, that she may not some day come to harm, if she is thus out alone in the dark until daylight." "Then let us for God's sake follow her," cried Huldbrand, anxiously.
"What would be the good of it ?" replied the old man.