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.