no moneybut his scanty furniture; his book of prayers; his crucifix
and rosary; and his papers。 How some of those papers came into his
hands I know not。 They had evidently been written many years before
the venerable man was born; and I doubt whether he had ever examined
the bundles; which had come down to him from some old ancestor; or in
some strange bequest。 His life was too busy to leave any time for
the gratification of mere curiosity; I; alas! have only had too much
leisure。〃
Next Monday; Signor Sperano read to us the story which I will call
〃THE POOR CLARE。〃
'At this point comes 〃The Poor Clare〃already released by Project
Gutenberg'
Now; of all our party who had first listened to my Lady Ludlow; Mr。
Preston was the only one who had not told us something; either of
information; tradition; history; or legend。 We naturally turned to
him; but we did not like asking him directly for his contribution;
for he was a grave; reserved; and silent man。
He understood us; however; and; rousing himself as it were; he said …
〃I know you wish me to tell you; in my turn; of something which I
have learnt during my life。 I could tell you something of my own
life; and of a life dearer still to my memory; but I have shunk from
narrating anything so purely personal。 Yet; shrink as I will; no
other but those sad recollections will present themselves to my mind。
I call them sad when I think of the end of it all。 However; I am not
going to moralize。 If my dear brother's life and death does not
speak for itself; no words of mine will teach you what may be learnt
from it。〃
End