Clara Hopgood

'None. You would be amazed if I were to tell you how many men and

women at this very moment would go to meet certain death if I were to

ask them.' 'Women?' 'Oh, yes; and women are of the greatest use, but it is rather

difficult to find those who have the necessary qualifications.'

'I suppose you employ them in order to obtain secret information?'

'Yes; amongst the Austrians.'

The party broke up. Baruch manoeuvred to walk with Clara, but

Marshall wanted to borrow a book from Mazzini, and she stayed behind

for him. Madge was outside in the street, and Baruch could do

nothing but go to her. She seemed unwilling to wait, and Baruch and

she went slowly homewards, thinking the others would overtake them.

The conversation naturally turned upon Mazzini.

'Although,' said Madge, 'I have never seen him before, I have heard

much about him and he makes me sad.'

'Why?' 'Because he has done something worth doing and will do more.'

'But why should that make you sad?'

'I do not think there is anything sadder than to know you are able to

do a little good and would like to do it, and yet you are not

permitted to do it. Mazzini has a world open to him large enough for

the exercise of all his powers.'

'It is worse to have a desire which is intense but not definite, to

be continually anxious to do something, you know not what, and always

to feel, if any distinct task is offered, your incapability of

attempting it.'

'A man, if he has a real desire to be of any service, can generally

gratify it to some extent; a woman as a rule cannot, although a

woman's enthusiasm is deeper than a man's. You can join Mazzini to-

morrow, I suppose, if you like.'

'It is a supposition not quite justifiable, and if I were free to go

I could not.'

'Why?'

'I am not fitted for such work; I have not sufficient faith. When I

see a flag waving, a doubt always intrudes. Long ago I was forced to

the conclusion that I should have to be content with a life which did

not extend outside itself.'

'I am sure that many women blunder into the wrong path, not because

they are bad, but simply because--if I may say so--they are too

good.' 'Maybe you are right. The inability to obtain mere pleasure has not

produced the misery which has been begotten of mistaken or baffled

self-sacrifice. But do you mean to say that you would like to enlist

under Mazzini?'