knife lying by Constance's side. What grief was there when day came!
Constance, whom all loved, stood accused of murder and must be tried
before Alla, the king of the land. Foremost among her accusers was
this false knight, but when all spoke in her favour save he alone,
Alla bethought him to test his witness. The Bible was brought and the
knight asked to swear that what he said was true. He took the book
and with his hand on it swore in the name of God that Constance had
done this thing. She, all pale, as one who sees death before his
eyes, prayed that at her need help might be granted to her from on
high.

Then indeed the hand of God smote down the perjurer. With a cry he
fell on his face, and a voice from heaven rang out, "Thou hast
slandered the guiltless and yet I hold my peace." Thereat wonder fell
on all men, and Alla, moved to wrath, condemned the traitor knight,
but Constance appeared so fair and holy in his eyes that after no
long time he wedded her. Lo, now! Constance is become a queen, and
seems to all men's sight at last favoured of Heaven.

But even so Providence had yet more trials in store for her. She who
had been so constant and so true must bear more sorrow for the glory
of God.

No long time after the wedding Alla went forth to fight the Scots and
left his queen in charge of the governor who had found her at first.
Once more a queen-mother plotted her doom, Donegild, King Alla's
mother. Constance bore the king a son, a lovely boy, whom they named
Mauricius. This seemed the very crown of bliss, yet through this joy
Heaven meant to try Constance still further.