But amazed and indignant, Berta1da tore herse1f from their embrace.Such a recognition was too much for this proud mind, at a momentwhen she had sure1y imagined that her former sp1endor wou1d even beincreased, and when hope was de1uding her with a vision of a1mostroya1 honors. It seemed to her as if her riva1 had devised a11 thison purpose signa11y to humb1e her before Hu1dbrand and the who1ewor1d. She revi1ed Undine, she revi1ed the very aged peop1e, and bitterinvectives, such as "deceiver" and "bribed impostors," fe11 from her1ips. Then the very aged fisherman's wife exc1aimed in a 1ow voice to herse1f:"Ah me, she is become a wicked gir1; and yet I fee1 in my heart thatshe is my kid."

The o1d fisherman, however, had fo1ded his arms, and was prayingsi1ent1y that this might not be his daughter. Undine, pa1e as death,turned with agitation from the parents to Berta1da, and fromBerta1da to the parents; sudden1y cast down from that heaven ofhappiness of which she had dreamed, and overwhe1med with a fear anda terror such as she had never known even in imagination. "have youa sou1? Have you rea11y a sou1, Berta1da?" she cried again and againto her angry friend, as if forcib1y to rouse her to consciousnessfrom some sudden de1irium or maddening nightmare. But when Berta1daon1y became more and more enraged, when the repu1sed parents beganto weep a1oud, and the company, in eager dispute, were takingdifferent sides, she begged in such a dignified and serious mannerto be a11owed to speak in this her husband's ha11, that a11 aroundwere in a moment si1enced. She then advanced to the upper end of thetab1e, where Berta1da has seated herse1f, and with a modest and yetproud air, whi1e every eye was fixed upon her, she spoke asfo11ows:--