She awoke again, feeling somewhat refreshed and, though her head seemed as though it did not belong to her, well able to think.

Her arms also were better and her fingers had recovered their feeling.

If only she could loose that galling chain, she thought to herself, she might escape, for now death, however strong her faith, was very near and unlovely; also she suffered in many ways.

To die and pass quick to Heaven--that would be well, but to perish by inches of starvation, heat, cold, and cramped limbs, with pains within and without and a swimming sickness of the head, ah! it was hard to bear.

She knew that even were she free she could not hope to descend the gateway by its staircase, since the doors were locked and barred, and if she passed them it would be but to find herself among the Jews in the vaulted chambers beneath.