le made her very unpopular, and it was commonly believed that
she had made away with Prince Alphege. Indeed, had the King her son
not been deservedly beloved a revolution would certainly have arisen.

[Illustration: The King Makes Friends with the Green Monkey]

Meantime the former governess of the unfortunate Alphege, who had lost
her husband soon after the King's death, retired to her own house with
her daughter, who grew up a lovely and most loveable girl, and both
continued to mourn the loss of their dear Prince.

The young King was devoted to hunting, and often indulged in his
favourite pastime, attended by the noblest youths in his kingdom. One
day, after a long morning's chase he stopped to rest near a brook in
the shade of a little wood, where a splendid tent had been prepared
for him. Whilst at luncheon he suddenly spied a little monkey of the
brightest green sitting on a tree and gazing so tenderly at him that
he felt quite moved. He forbade his courtiers to frighten it, and the
monkey, noticing how much attention was being paid him, sprang from
bough to bough, and at length gradually approached the King, who
offered him some food. The monkey took it very daintily and finally
came to the table. The King took him on his knees, and, delighted with
his capture, brought him home with him. He would trust no one else
with its care, and the whole Court soon talked of nothing but the
pretty green monkey.

One morning, as Prince Alphege's governess and her daughter were alone
together, the little monkey sprang in through an open window. He had
escaped from the palace, and his manners were so gentle and caressing
that Zayda and her mother soon got over the first fright he had given
them. He had spent some time with them and quite won their hearts by
his insinuating ways, when the King discovered where he was and sent
to fetch him back. But the monkey made such piteous cries, and seemed
so unhappy when anyone attempted to catch him, that the two ladies
begged the King to leave him a little longer with them, to which he
consented.

One evening, as they sat by the fountain in the garden, the little
monkey kept gazing at Zayda with such sad and loving eyes that she and
her mother could not think what to make of it, and they were still
more surprised when they saw big tears rolling down his cheeks.

Next day both mother and daughter were sitting in a jessamine bower in
the garden, and they began to talk of the green mo