escape. Her rooms were only lighted from above; she determined to
steal forth at night into the gallery; the door was secured. She
hastened back to her chamber in fear and sorrow, and wept.

Twice in the course of the day the stern and silent matron visited
Iduna with her food; and as she retired, secured the door. This was
the only individual that the imprisoned lady ever beheld. And thus
heavily rolled on upwards of a week. On the eve of the ninth day,
Iduna was surprised by the matron presenting her a letter as she
quitted the chamber for the night. Iduna seized it with a feeling of
curiosity not unmixed with pleasure. It was the only incident that had
occurred during her captivity. She recognised the hand-writing of
Nicaeus, and threw it down with; vexation at her silliness in supposing,
for a moment, that the matron could have been the emissary of any other
person.

Yet the letter must be read, and at length she opened it. It informed
her that a ship had arrived from Athens at the coast, and that to-
morrow she must depart for Italy. It told her also, that the Turks,
under Mahomed, had invaded Albania; and that the Hungarians, under the
command of her father, had come to support the Cross. It said nothing
of Iskander. But it reminded her that little more than the same time
that would carry her to the coast to embark for a foreign land, would,
were she wise, alike enable Nicaeus to place her in her father's arms,
and allow him to join in the great struggle for his country and his
creed. The letter was written with firmness, but tenderly. It left,
however, on the mind of Iduna an impression of the desperate resolution
of the writer.

Now it so happened, that as this unhappy lady jumped from her couch,