They all combine, however, though they differ in respect to many other incidents and details, in relating the far-famed story of Alfred's leaving the cakes to burn.

It seems that, though the cow-herd himself was allowed to regard Alfred as a man of rank in disguise--though even _he_ did not know that it was the king--his wife was not admitted, even in this partial way, into the secret.

She was made to consider the stranger as some common strolling countryman, and the better to sustain this idea, he was taken into the cow-herd's service, and employed in various ways, from time to time, in labors about the house and farm.

Alfred's thoughts, however, were little interested in these occupations.

His mind dwelt incessantly upon his misfortunes and the calamities which had befallen his kingdom.