32 UNDINE.
" Silence !" exclaimed the fisherman, in a voice of stern rebuke ; and she, who with all her wild spirit was ex- tremely alive to fear, shrunk from him, moved close up to Huldbrand, trembling, and said very softly :
" Are you also angry, dear friend ?"
The knight pressed her soft hand, and tenderlj'^ stroked her locks. He was unable to utter a word, for his vexa- tion, arising from the old man's severity toward Undine, closed his lips ; and thus the two couple sat opposite to each other, at once heated with anger and in embarrassed silence.
In the midst of this stillness a low knocking at the door startled them all ; for there are times when a slight circumstance, coming unexpectedly upon us, startles us like something supernatural. But there was the further source of alarm, that the enchanted forest lay so near them, and that their place of abode seemed at present inacces- sible to any human being. While they were looking upon one another in doubt, the knocking was again heard, ac- companied with a deep groan. The knight sprang to seize his sword. But the old man said, in a low whisper :
- ' If it be what I fear it is, no weapon of yours can
protect us."
Undine in the mean while went to the door, and cried with the firm voice of fearless displeasure; " Spirits of the earth! if mischief be your aini, Kiihleborn shall teach you better manners."
The terror of the rest was increased by this wild speech ; they looked fearfully upon the girl, and Huldbrand was just recovering presence of mind enough to ask what she meant, when a voice reached them from without:
" I am no spirit of the earth, though a spirit still in its earthly body. You tiiat are within the cottage there, if you fear God and would afford me assistance, open your door to me."
By the time these words were spoken, Undine had already opened it ; and the lamp throwing a strong light
