necessarily followed by physic and fasting."

"I'll none of it," cried the king. "The princess's birthday! I thought
her birthday had passed weeks ago."

"Of that I know nothing," replied the chemist. "I only know that
yesterday we celebrated her seventy-second birthday. I am an old man,
as your majesty sees, and not likely to tell that which is false."

The king was purple with rage. He said but the one word "Home!" In a
few moments, he and his retinue had turned their backs, and they
speedily disappeared behind the hills. There was only left a cloud of
dust, and an occasional strain of "The girl I left behind me," borne
back upon the wind from the distance.

This last blow fell heavily on the father of the princess. He flew into
a rage; he had had too much of birthdays and bridegrooms, and
determined he would be a party to no more of either.

"Get you gone to a convent!" he cried to his weeping, frightened
daughter. "Don apparel suitable to your years, and offend my sight no
more!"

They placed upon the princess's yellow curls a beldame's cap, robed her
in a plain gown of black, and made ready to take her away.

"I cannot understand," thought she, "the cause of the misfortunes that
have befallen me and all the world. Can it be Dr. Aigew's casket?" She
took it from her bosom.

"I fear me I shall want no birthdays in the convent," said she, sadly.
"So there, little birds, take what is left."

As she strewed the sugary mites, the little birds caught them up and
flew away.

A sudden earthquake convulsed the land, a violent hurricane swept over
it. During these changes of nature, everything that had been affected
by the unnatural birthdays returned to its former state. All
remembrance even, connected with them ever so remotely, was wiped from
the memory of man.

I am not sure, but I think the prince did afterward visit the island,
and was much impressed by its quiet, sylvan life and the incomparable
beauty of the princess; and they do say----

[Illustration]

UNDER THE LILACS

BY LOUISA M. ALCOTT.

CHAPTER XVI.

DETECTIVE THORNTON.

A few days later, Miss Celia was able to go about with her arm in a
sling, pale still, and rather stiff, but so much better than any one
had expected, that all agreed Mr. Paine was right in pronouncing Dr.
Mills "a master hand with broken bones." Two devoted little maids
waited on her, two eager pages stood ready to run her errands, and
friendly neighbors sen