stantinople, to receive princely nurture at the most refined and elegant court in the world. Tears of affection and gratification filled the beautiful eyes of the countess, as gazing upon her blooming boy, she murmured, " My son may yet wear the diadem of the Cae-sars. My father was styled The Conqueror, because he added a poor island to his duchy of Normandy, but what title shall he bear who restores a continent to the dominion of Christendom ?" For the three following months the countess received no certain intelligence concerning the fate of the crusade. There were rumors of famine in the christian camp, and stories of dreadful battles with the Infidels ; but the state-ments were vague and unsatisfactory. Prince Henry had been absent for some time quelling an insurrection in Normandy, and the loneliness of Adela's situation, together with the anxiety of her mind, filled her thoughts with melancholy forebodings, and subdued the natural vivacity of her manners. The prince upon his return, was alarmed by the pallor of her countenance, and the sadness of her tones. " Cheer thee, my sister," said he, " thon wert, indeed, a prophet, to declare that the victories of the warriors would compensate for the disasters of the rabble crowds." " Art thou the bearer of good tidings ?" said Adela, a flush of hope irradiating her features. " Aye, verily," returned the prince, with exultation, " a well-authenticated account of the victories of the cross, em-bellished with as pretty a Passage of Arms in Cupid's tilt-yard, as the Romancers could well desire." " Sport not with my impatience," said Adela. " Tell me the name of thy messenger, and the news he brings." "The messenger is Gilbert of Becket, a Saxon esquire of Edgar Atheling, and, therefore, direct from Duke Robert and Count Stephen. He sailed with them across the Ionian Sea, and carried the shield of his master at the grand parade, in Constantinople." HEROINES OP THE CRUSADES.