Bertalda received the knight, on his return home in the evening,with tears and complaints of Undine's conduct. He cast a seriouslook at his poor wife, and she looked down as if distressed. Yet shesaid with great composure: "My lord and husband does not reproveeven a bondslave without a hearing, how much less then, his weddedwife?"

"Speak," exclaimed the knight with a gloomy countenance, "what inducedyou to act so strangely?"