Heerdegen and Bertha had now travelled for many days, and the nearer they approached towards the shores of the North Sea, the damsel was the more cheerful, and the youth more discontented. When Bertha questioned him why he was thus vexed, he answered,--“It seems to me almost as if I were now leading you into the cloister; for if that wonderful lady has you once within her walls, Heaven knows whether she will ever allow you to come again among mankind; nor indeed, so far as I can judge by your own disposition, will you ever wish again to leave that silent castle, with its flowers on the rampart, and its moonlight radiance!” “Well, dear brother,” answered the damsel, “that would only be the fulfilment of my own desires, which, doubtless, you would not prevent.” “It were a loss to the world,” answered Heerdegen; “and I had gladly seen you led to the altar.” “Nay,” said Bertha, “we shall doubtless find at the pious lady’s castle all that is fitting for religious duties, a chapel, a cross, and an altar.” “It was not thus,” said Heerdegen, “that I wished to be understood;” then looked discontentedly at his horse’s feet, while Bertha turned away, blushing, and gazing at the long grass and flowers that grew around them. After such discourse, she thought to render her brother more tranquil, by praising the beauty of the land through which they now past, the green grassy hills, winding streams, and verdant woods. To which he answered,--“In the bright days of midsummer all this is indeed pleasant and delightful; but let the winter once come on, with its howling winds and deep snows, while the lonely habitations of the poor inhabitants send up their smoke amid the pathless wilderness, more like funeral piles than pleasant dwellings, then you would cease to praise the country which you now so much admire.” “But at the castle of the Lady Minnatrost there are neither snow-storms nor howling winds,” said Bertha. Whereupon Heerdegen peevishly answered,--“Ay, ay, so it has been said. I myself have never been there in the winter!” Then he rode on in silence; and the more gloomy he appeared, the more earnestly did Bertha long to be with her wonderful aunt, who might, by her magic spells, restore the knight to serenity.