undine-第19节

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from　the　procession；　but　she　seemed　to　vanish　from　under　their
hands；　and　yet　was　immediately　seen　advancing　again　amid　the　dismal
cortege　with　slow　and　solemn　step。　At　length；　in　consequence　of　the
continued　shrinking　of　the　attendants　to　the　right　and　to　the　left；
she　came　close　behind　Bertalda。　The　figure　now　moved　so　slowly　that
the　widow　did　not　perceive　it；　and　it　walked　meekly　and　humbly
behind　her　undisturbed。

This　lasted　till　they　came　to　the　churchyard；　where　the　procession
formed　a　circle　round　the　open　grave。　Then　Bertalda　saw　her　unbidden
companion；　and　starting　up　half　in　anger　and　half　in　terror；　she
commanded　her　to　leave　the　knight's　last　resting…place。　The　veiled
figure；　however；　gently　shook　her　head　in　refusal；　and　raised　her
hands　as　if　in　humble　supplication　to　Bertalda；　deeply　agitating　her
by　the　action；　and　recalling　to　her　with　tears　how　Undine　had　so
kindly　wished　to　give　her　that　coral　necklace　on　the　Danube。　Father
Heilmann　motioned　with　his　hand　and　commanded　silence；　as　they　were
to　pray　in　mute　devotion　over　the　body；　which　they　were　now　covering
with　the　earth。　Bertalda　knelt　silently；　and　all　knelt；　even　the
grave…diggers　among　the　rest；　when　they　had　finished　their　task。　But
when　they　rose　again；　the　white　stranger　had　vanished；　on　the　spot
where　she　had　knelt　there　gushed　out　of　the　turf　a　little　silver
spring；　which　rippled　and　murmured　away　till　it　had　almost　entirely
encircled　the　knight's　grave；　then　it　ran　further　and　emptied　itself
into　a　lake　which　lay　by　the　side　of　the　burial…place。　Even　to　this
day　the　inhabitants　of　the　village　show　the　spring；　and　cherish　the
belief　that　it　is　the　poor　rejected　Undine；　who　in　this　manner　still
embraces　her　husband　in　her　loving　arms。







End