Clara Hopgood

She came up from the arch and went home as the sun was setting. She

found Mrs Caffyn alone.

'I have news to tell you,' she said. 'Baruch Cohen is in love with

my sister, and she is in love with him.'

'The Lord, Miss Clara! I thought sometimes that perhaps it might be

you; but there, it's better, maybe, as it is, for--'

'For what?'

'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.