‘Why, my dear, because somebody’s sure to turn up who’ll make you happy, but there aren’t many men like Baruch. You see what I mean, don’t you? He’s always a-reading books, and, therefore, he don’t think so much of what some people would make a fuss about. Not as anything of that kind would ever stop me, if I were a man and saw such a woman as Miss Madge. He’s really as good a creature as ever was born, and with that child she might have found it hard to get along, and now it will be cared for, and so will she be to the end of their lives.’ The evening after their return to Great Ormond Street, Mazzini was surprised by a visit from Clara alone. ‘When I last saw you,’ she said, ‘you told us that you had been helped by women. I offer myself.’ ‘But, my dear madam, you hardly know what the qualifications are. To begin with, there must be a knowledge of three foreign languages, French, German and Italian, and the capacity and will to endure great privation, suffering and, perhaps, death.’ ‘I was educated abroad, I can speak German and French. I do not know much Italian, but when I reach Italy I will soon learn.’ ‘Pardon me for asking you what may appear a rude question. Is it a personal disappointment which sends you to me, or love for the cause? It is not uncommon to find that young women, when earthly love is impossible, attempt to satisfy their cravings with a love for that which is impersonal.’ ‘Does it make any difference, so far as their constancy is concerned?’ ‘I cannot say that it does. The devotion of many of the martyrs of the Catholic church was repulsion from the world as much as attraction to heaven. You must understand that I am not prompted by curiosity. If you are to be my friend, it is necessary that I should know you thoroughly.’ ‘My motive is perfectly pure.’ They had some further talk and parted. After a few more interviews, Clara and another English lady started for Italy. Madge had letters from her sister at intervals for eighteen months, the last being from Venice. Then they ceased, and shortly afterwards Mazzini told Baruch that his sister-in-law was dead. All efforts to obtain more information from Mazzini were in vain, but one day when her name was mentioned, he said to Madge,— ‘The theologians represent the Crucifixion as the most sublime fact in the world’s history. It was sublime, but let us reverence also the Eternal Christ who is for ever being crucified for our salvation.’ ‘Father,’ said a younger Clara to Baruch some ten years later as she sat on his knee, ‘I had an Aunt Clara once, hadn’t I?’ ‘Yes, my child.’ ‘Didn’t she go to Italy and die there?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Why did she go?’ ‘Because she wanted to free the poor people of Italy who were slaves.’ * * * * * THE END * * * * * * * * * * _Colston & Company_, _Ltd._, _Printers_, _Edinburgh_.