"Bring me from yonder house a draught of whatever is mostly used in the city." It was not the confectioner's house, as he supposed, to which he pointed, but one of Aigew's laboratories. His majesty's commands were carried thither; and the chemist, gray and wizen, came forth, bearing a goblet filled with a dark liquid of peculiar odor. He bowed his knee, and held it toward the king, who took it in his hand, sniffed his royal nose suspiciously, and said: [Illustration: THE CHEMIST PRESENTS THE BEVERAGE TO THE KING.] "It has a disagreeable smell! What is it called?" "Rhubarb and senna, your majesty; it is the only drink taken the day after the princess's birthday. Merry-making and feasting, when indulged in too freely, are 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.