On went the boat; but again, amid storm and calm, wind and rain, it
was unhurt. For five years it drifted, now north, now south, now
east, now west, about the wide ocean. God's hand guided it, and God
protected it, so that Constance and her child were fed and happy.

Now when the emperor heard of the treachery of the Syrians, he sent a
great army in ships to punish them, and as this army was returning to
Rome the captain suddenly saw a little boat travelling without oar or
sail. As it came nearer he saw that it contained a woman, and when he
took her aboard, he quickly perceived that she was noble. Her baby
boy was in her arms. The captain in pity took her to his home, but
the woman would not say who she was, though she lived with his family
and served them well. _You_ have guessed by now that the woman was
Constance.

Some years afterwards the good God put it into Alla's heart to go to
Rome. His host there was the very captain with whom Constance was
living. When she heard of his coming she hid herself, but arranged
that her boy should stand before Alla at the feast. The child was
very like his mother, and at once the king asked his history. The
captain told him of the coming of these two sea wanderers. Alla
eagerly asked to see the mother.

At last Constance came, though unwillingly, for she was still deeply
grieved, believing that her husband had really sent that cruel
letter. When Alla saw her he embraced her tenderly, and for a long
time they talked until the past was made clear. Alla, it seemed, had
punished the wicked old queen with death, and had mourned for
Constance ever since. Great was their joy then, and very pleasant was
it to see their reunion after so many years of danger and separation.