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.
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