The Sunday mirror., 1880-07-25
UNDINE.
TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH.
THE DAY AFTER THE MARRIAGE.
CHAPTER VIII.

THE DAY AFTER The MAkKlACbs
A bright morning light wakened the
young peoples and Huldbrand lay musing
silently. As often as he had dropped
asleep, he had been scared by horrible
derams of spectres, who suddenly took the
form of fair women, or of fair women who
were transformed into dragons. And when
he started up from these grim visions, and
saw the pale, cold moonlight streaming in
at the window, he would turn an anxious
look toward Undine she lay slumbering
in undisturbed beauty and peace. Then
he would compose himself to sleep again
soon again to wake in terror. When he
looked back upon all this in broad daylight,
he was angry with himself for having let
suspicion, shade of distrust of his beautiful
wife, enter his mind He frankly confessed
to her this injustice; she answered him only
by pressing his hand, and signing from the
bottom OF her heart. But look, such as
her eyes had never before given, of the
deepest and most confding tenderness, left
him no doubt that she forgave him. So he
arose cheerfully and joined the family in the
sittng-room. The three others were gather
ed round the hearth, looking uneasy, and
neither of them having ventured to speak
his thoughts yet. The Priest seemed to be
secretly praying for deliverance from evil.
But when the young husband appeared,
beaming with happiness, the care-worn faces
frightened up; nay, the Fisherman ven
tured upon few courteous jokes with the
Knight, which won smile even from the
good housewife. Meanwhile Undine had
dressed herself, and now came in; they
could not help rising to meet her, and stood
still, astonshed; the young creature was
the same, yet so different. The Priest was
the first to address her, with an air of pa
ternal kindness, and when he raised his
hands in benediction, the fair woman sank
on her knees, trembling with pious awe. In
few meek and humble words she begged
him to forgive the folly of the day before,
and besought him, with great emotion, to
pray for the salvation of her soul. Then
rising, she kissed her foster parents, and
thanking them for all their kindness, she
said: "Oh, now l feel from the bottom of
my heart how much you have done for me,
how deeply grateful ought to be, dear,
dear people |" She seemed as if she could
not caress them enough; but soon, observ-
ing the dame glance toward the breakfast,
she went toward the hearth, busted herself
arranging and preparing the meal, and
would not suffer the good woman to take
the least trouble herself
So she went on all day; at once young
matron, and a bashful, tender, delicate
bride. The three who knew her best were
every moment expecting this mood to
change, and give place to one of her crazy
fits; but they watched her in vain. There
was still the same angelic mildness and
sweetness. The Priest could not keep his
ewes away from her; and he said more than
once to the bridegroom, Sir, it was
great treasure which Heaven bestowed upon
you yesterday, by my poor ministration;
cherish her worthily, and she will be to you
blessing in time and eternity"
Toward evening, Undine clasped the
Knights arm with modest tenderness, and
gently led him out before the door, where
the rays of the setting sun were lighting
UP the fresh grass, and the tall, taper
stems of trees The young wife's face
wore melting expression of love and sad
ness, and her lips quivered with some anx-
ious, momentous secret, which as yet be-
trayed itself only by scarce audible sighs.
She silently led her companion onward;
if he spoke, she replied by look which
gave him no direct answer, but revealed a
whole heaven of love and timid submis.
sion. So they reached the banks of the
stream which had overfowed, and the
Knight started on finding the wild torrent
changed into gentle ripping brook, with
out a trace Of its former violence left.