their founder appointed a remedy for such extreme cases as you
suggest. They have a bell--'tis but a small one, as I have heard,
and has yet never been rung in the memory man: when the Poor Clares
have been without food for twenty-four hours, they may ring this
bell, and then trust to our good people of Antwerp for rushing to the
rescue of the Poor Clares, who have taken such blessed care of us in
all our straits."

It seemed to me that such rescue would be late in the day; but I did
not say what I thought. I rather turned the conversation, by asking
my landlord if he knew, or had ever heard, anything of a certain
Sister Magdalen.

"Yes," said he, rather under his breath, "news will creep out, even
from a convent of Poor Clares. Sister Magdalen is either a great
sinner or a great saint. She does more, as I have heard, than all
the other nuns put together; yet, when last month they would fain
have made her mother-superior, she begged rather that they would
place her below all the rest, and make her the meanest servant of
all."

"You never saw her?" asked I.

"Never," he replied.

I was weary of waiting for Father Bernard, and yet I lingered in
Antwerp. The political state of things became worse than ever,
increased to its height by the scarcity of food consequent on many
deficient harvests. I saw groups of fierce, squalid men, at every
corner of the street, glaring out with wolfish eyes at my sleek skin