Edward and Eleanora arrived in England, August 2d, 1273. The English welcomed their return with the great-est exultation. Both houses of parliament assembled to do honor to their entrance into London, and the streets were hung with garlands of flowers and festoons of silk ; while the wealthy inhabitants, showered gold and silver on the royal retinue as they passed. Preparations were made for their coronation on a scale of magnificence hitherto unrivalled. Fourteen days were spent in erecting booths for the accommodation of the populace, and temporary kitchens for the purpose of roast-ing oxen, sheep, and fowls, and preparing cakes and pastry, for the expected banquet. Hogsheads of Bordeaux wine, and pipes of good stout English ale, were ranged at con-venient intervals, and flagon-masters appointed to deal them out to the thirsty crowds. The night before the expected ceremony, the presump-tive king and queen were indulging in reminiscences of the early days of their married life, and comparing those troublous times, with the splendid future that seemed to stretch in bright perspective before them. " Methinks, sweet life," said Edward, tenderly taking her hand, " those days when "thou dwelt a fugitive in the wilds of Devonshire, and I languished within the walls of Kenilworth, gave little promise of our present peaceful state." "True, my lord, yet had I not dwelt in the humble ham-let, I might never have known the pure loyalty of English hearts." "By our Lady, thou hast a better alchemy than thy clerkly brother, the Castilian monarch, for his science finds only gold in everything, while thy diviner art finds good in all, and loyalty in outlaws." " I remember me," replied Eleanora, with an arch smile, " there was a gallant outlaw, in whom my woman's heart discerned every noble and knightly quality. But small credit can I claim for my science, since it was the alchemy of love that revealed his virtues." ELEANORA. 399