he midst of the square stood a beautiful fountain, and
here they lingered to watch the water as it tumbled and tossed. So
violently did it do this that it seemed as though the fountain must
break, and the water, bursting its bonds, must flow away far and free.

At that moment a tall man came towards them from the market-place,
and, bowing to the knight and Bertalda, he drew the young wife aside
that he might speak to her alone.

Huldbrand looked at the stranger, and as he looked he felt sure that
he had seen him before. He grew a little angry, this hasty knight, as
he watched his wife and the stranger whispering together. He caught a
few words too, and they seemed to him to be in a foreign language, and
this displeased him yet more.

At this moment, however, Undine left the stranger. As she came toward
her husband she was laughing merrily and clapping her hands.

But the stranger, as she left him, shook his head and frowned. Then he
walked with great strides toward the fountain, and stepping into it he
vanished and was seen no more.

'It is Kuehleborn, the spirit of the forest stream--I know him now,'
thought Huldbrand to himself.

But Bertalda seemed to see nothing unusual about the stranger. She
thought he was the Master of the fountain, and turning to Undine she
asked her what the man had said to make her laugh so gaily.

'The day after to-morrow is your birthday, dear Bertalda,' said
Undine. 'Wait only until then, and I will tell you the reason of my
joy.'

Then, saying farewell to Bertalda, Undine and the knight walked toward
their home.

'Was it Kuehleborn who spoke to you by the fountain?' asked Huldbrand,
and his voice sounded cold, for he did not wish to be reminded of his
wife's strange relations.

'It was he,' answered Undine. 'He told me tidings that made me
rejoice. I will tell you without delay, should you desire it, what the
tidings were. Yet if you will but wait until Bertalda's birthday, you
will give me great pleasure, and you yourself will enjoy a great
surprise.'

Listening to her gentle words, the knight forgot the ill-humour he had
but lately felt, and willingly he agreed to wait until she herself
wished to tell him the good news.

And Undine, as she fell asleep that night, was smiling happily.
'Bertalda, dear Bertalda,' she murmured, 'how she will rejoice when I
tell her the tidings brought to me by him whom she calls the Master of
the fountain.'

CHAPTER X

THE BIRTHDAY