ut
into her hands) to confirm the truth of her words; and she said that
she had given Bertram the ring he then wore, in exchange for that, at
the time he vowed to marry her. On hearing this, the king ordered the
guards to seize her also; and her account of the ring differing from
Bertram's, the king's suspicions were confirmed: and he said, if they
did not confess how they came by this ring of Helena's, they should be
both put to death. Diana requested her mother might be permitted to
fetch the jeweller of whom she bought the ring, which being granted,
the widow went out, and presently returned leading in Helena herself.

The good countess, who in silent grief had beheld her son's danger, and
had even dreaded that the suspicion of his having destroyed his wife
might possibly be true, finding her dear Helena, whom she loved with
even a maternal affection, was still living, felt a delight she was
hardly able to support; and the king, scarce believing for joy that it
was Helena, said: 'Is this indeed the wife of Bertram that I see?'
Helena, feeling herself yet an unacknowledged wife, replied: 'No, my
good lord, it is but the shadow of a wife you see, the name and not the
thing.' Bertram cried out: 'Both, both! O pardon!' 'O my lord,' said
Helena, 'when I personated this fair maid, I found you wondrous kind;
and look, here is your letter!' reading to him in a joyful tone those
words which she had once repeated so sorrowfully: When from my finger
you can get this ring--' This is done; it was to me you gave the ring.
Will you be mine, now you are doubly won?' Bertram replied: 'If you can
make it plain that you were the lady I talked with that night, I will
love you dearly ever, ever dearly.' This was no difficult task, for the
widow and Diana came with Helena to prove this fact; and the king was
so well pleased with Diana, for the friendly assistance she had
rendered the dear lady he so truly valued for the service she had done
him, that he promised her also a noble husband: Helena's history giving
him a hint, that it was a suitable reward for kings to bestow upon fair
ladies when they perform notable services.

Thus Helena at last found that her father's legacy was indeed
sanctified by the luckiest stars in heaven; for she was now the beloved
wife of her dear Bertram, the daughter-in-law of her noble mistress,
and herself the countess of Rousillon.

THE TAMING OF THE SHREW

Katharine, the Shrew, was the eldest da