by that people.  For five years she wandered to and fro upon the sea.  Do you ask who preserved her?  The same God who fed Elijah with ravens, and saved Daniel in the horrible den.  At last she floated into the English seas, and was thrown by the waves on the Northumberland shore, near which stood a great castle.  The constable of the castle came down in the morning to see the woful woman.  She spoke a kind of corrupt Latin, and could neither tell her name nor the name of the country of which she was a native.  She said she was so bewildered in the sea that she remembered nothing.  The man could not help loving her, and so took her home to live with himself and his wife.  Now, through the example and teaching of Constance, Dame Hermigild was converted to Christianity.  It happened also that three aged Christian Britons were living near that place in great fear of their pagan neighbours, and one of these men was blind.  One day, as the constable, his wife, and Constance were walking along the sea-shore, they were met by the blind man, who called out, ’In the name of Christ, give me my sight, Dame Hermigild!’ At this, on account of her husband, she was sore afraid; but, encouraged by Constance, she wrought a great miracle, and gave the blind man his sight.  But Satan, the enemy of all, wanted to destroy Constance, and he employed a young knight for that purpose.  This knight had loved her with a foul affection, to which she could give no return.  At last, wild for revenge, he crept at night into Hermigild’s chamber, slew her, and laid the bloody knife on the innocent pillow of Constance.  The next morning there was woe and dolour in the house.  She was brought before Alla, the king, charged with the murder.  The people could not believe that she had done this thing; they knew she loved Hermigild so.  Constance fell down on her knees and prayed to God for succour.  Have you ever been in a crowd in which a man is being led to death, and, seeing a wild, pale face, know by that sign that you are looking upon the doomed creature?—­so wild, so pale looked Constance when she stood before the king and people.  The tears ran down Alla’s face.  ‘Go fetch a book,’ cried he; ’and if this knight swears that the woman is guilty, she shall surely die.’  The book was brought, the knight took the oath, and that moment an unseen hand smote him on the neck, so that he fell down on the floor, his eyes bursting out of his head.  Then a celestial voice was heard in the midst, crying, ’Thou hast slandered a daughter of Holy Church in high presence, and yet I hold my peace.’  A great awe fell on all who heard, and the king and multitudes of his people were converted.  Shortly after this, Alla wedded Constance with great richness and solemnity.  At length he was called to defend his border against the predatory Scots, and in his absence a man-child was born.  A messenger was sent with the blissful tidings to the king’s camp; but, on his way, the messenger turned aside