"He is older, and has seen more," replied Iduna.

The Eremite shook his head, and leaning on his staff, returned to
the cavern. Iduna remained, seated on a mossy rock, listening to the
awakening birds, and musing over the fate of Iskander. While she was
indulging in this reverie, her name was called. She looked up with a
blush, and beheld Nicaeus.

"How fares my gentle comrade?" inquired the Prince of Athens.

"As well as I hope you are, dear Nicaeus. We have been indeed fortunate
in finding so kind a host."

"I think I may now congratulate you on your safety," said the Prince.
"This unfrequented pass will lead us in two days to Epirus, nor do I
indeed now fear pursuit."

"Acts and not words must express in future how much we owe to you," said
Iduna. "My joy would be complete if my father only knew of our safety,
and if our late companion were here to share it."

"Fear not for my friend," replied Nicaeus. "I have faith in the fortune
of Iskander."

"If any one could succeed under such circumstances, he doubtless is the
man," rejoined Iduna; "but it was indeed an awful crisis in his fate."

"Trust me, dear lady, it is wise to banish gloomy thoughts."

"We can give him only our thoughts," said Iduna, "and when we remember
how much is dependent on his life, can they be cheerful?"

"Mine must be so, when I am in the presence of Iduna," replied Nicaeus.

The daughter of Hunniades gathered moss from the rock, and threw it into
the stream.

"Dear lady," said the Prince of Athens, seating himself by her side,
and stealing her gentle hand. "Pardon me, if an irrepressible feeling at
this moment impels me to recur to a subject, which, I would fain hope,
were not so unpleasing to you, as once unhappily you deemed it. O!
Iduna, Iduna, best and dearest, we are once more together; once more
I gaze upon that unrivalled form, and listen to the music of that
matchless voice. I sought you, I perhaps violated my pledge, but I
sought you in captivity and sorrow. Pardon me, pity me, Iduna! Oh!
Iduna, if possible, love me!"

She turned away her head, she turned away her streaming eyes. "It
is impossible not to love my deliverers," she replied, in a low and
tremulous voice, "even could he not prefer the many other claims
to affection which are possessed by the Prince of Athens. I was not
prepared for this renewal of a most painful subject, perhaps not under
any circumstances, but least of all under those in which we now find
ou