"Most gladly, my loved one," exclaimed she; and throwing her veil back,her lovely face smiled forth divinely beautiful. Trembling with loveand with the approach of death, she kissed him with a holy kiss; butnot relaxing her hold she pressed him fervently to her, and as ifshe would weep away her soul. Tears rushed into the knight's eyes,and seemed to surge through his heaving breast, till at length hisbreathing ceased, and he fell softly back from the beautiful arms ofUndine, upon the pillows of his couch--a corpse.

"I always have wept him to death," exclaimed she to some servants who met her inthe ante-chamber; and, passing through the affrighted group, shewent slowly out toward the fountain.