So it all came out, and the king, in a passion of rage, slew his mother, and then shut himself up in his castle to give way to grief.

After a time he began to repent his deed, because he remembered it was contrary to the gentle teachings of the faith Constance had taught him.  In his penitence he resolved to go to Rome on a pilgrimage to atone for his sin.  So in his pilgrim dress he set out for the great empire.

Now when it was heard in Rome that the great Alla from the North-land had come thither on a Christian pilgrimage, all the noble Romans vied to do him honor.  Among others, the senator with whom Constance abode invited him to a great banquet which he made for him.  While Alla sat at this feast, his eyes were constantly fixed upon a beautiful boy, one of the senator’s pages, who stood near and filled their goblets with wine.  At length he said to his host,—­“Pray tell me, whence came the boy who serves you?  Who is he, and do his father and mother live in the country?”

“A mother he has,” answered the senator:  “so holy a woman never was seen.  But if he has a father I cannot tell you.”  Then he went on and told the king of Constance, and how she was found with this bey, her child, on the pathless sea.

Alla was overjoyed in his heart, for he knew then that this child was his own son.  Immediately they sent for Constance to come thither.  As soon as she saw her husband, she uttered a cry and fell into a deep swoon.  When she was recovered she looked reproachfully at Alla, for she supposed it was by his order she had been so ruthlessly sent from his kingdom.  But when, with many tears of pity for her misfortunes, King Alla told her how he had grieved for her, and how long he had suffered thus, she was convinced.

Then they embraced each other, and were so happy that no other happiness, except that of heavenly spirits, could ever equal theirs.

After this, she made herself known to the Emperor, her father, who had great rejoicing over his long-lost daughter, whom he had thought dead.  For many weeks Rome was full of feasting, and merry-making, and happiness.  These being over, King Alla, with his dear wife, returned to his kingdom of England, where they lived in great happiness all the rest of their days.

THE DOCTOR’S REVENGE.

By Aloe.

Painfully toiled the camels over the burning sands of Arabia.  Weary and thirsty were they, for they had not for days had herbage to crop, or water to drink, as they trod, mile after mile, the barren waste, where the sands glowed red like a fiery sea.  And weary were the riders, exhausted with toil and heat, for they dared not stop to rest.  The water which they carried with them was almost spent; some of the skins which had held it flapped empty against the sides of the camels, and too well the travelers knew that if they loitered on their way, all must perish of thirst.