Without more ado the Saxon lifted him in his arms and bore him into the cottage. Egwina hastened forward. “Bear him to thy bed, Siegbert,” she said. “The poor man is ill.” The man whose form Siegbert was supporting turned his head and looked at her. “Little one, is it thou?” he said. With a cry, Egwina sprang toward him, and fell upon her knees before him. “My king! my king!” she cried, covering his hands with kisses. Alfred tried to raise her, but the effort was too much for him, and he became unconscious. “Oh, Siegbert, ’tis the king, the king!” cried Egwina as Siegbert laid him on a couch. “Yes, my sister; but now aid me to bring him from his swound, and then will I go for a leech.” In response to their restoratives the king soon showed signs of returning consciousness. Egwina explained rapidly to Siegbert as they ministered to him. “’Tis the same misease which hath afflicted the king since he was a young man. ’Twas at his wedding feast, I have heard them say, when first it seized upon him. The merriment was at its height when he was taken with it. Some there were, and are yet, who thought that wicca craft had been wrought upon him; but go, my brother, for the leech. See! he openeth his eyes.” Siegbert left hastily, and soon returned with the physician, who examined the king carefully. “It needeth blood-letting,” said he, sagely, “but unlucky is the day, and mickle would be the result should I use the vein knife.” The king smiled faintly. “No blood dost thou need to let, good leech,” he said. “The affliction is one to which time hath accustomed me, and naught do I need now but repose, since the sharpness of the attack hath passed.” “Then,” said the leech, unwilling to let slip an opportunity to press his service upon the king, “I will leave thee this decoction, and to-morrow will we see about the blood-letting. Then, too, shalt thou be removed to abode more befitting thee.” To all of his entreaties the next day to allow him to remove him to his own dwelling, Alfred turned a deaf ear; nor would he permit Siegbert to inform his own family of his whereabouts. “’Twill be but a few days until the misease will have left me,” he said. “Until then I will stay with thee, little one, if thou wilt let me.” “Gladly, my king,” returned the maiden, with shining eyes. “If thou canst abide in our poor dwelling, thou art as welcome as the sunbeam.” Tenderly did Alfred smile at her. “Egwina,” said he gently, when the leech had gone, “tell me of this young man. Art thou wed to him, and is that why thou wouldst not exchange the true-lofa with Edward?” “No, no,” answered Egwina. “This is my brother, my king.” “Thy brother?” and Alfred looked his surprise. “I knew not that thou hadst a brother, little one.” “Nor did I know until but a short time since,” returned Egwina. Briefly she recounted the incidents which led to their finding each other.