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102ARIADNE.refuse it; then, whenIreasoned with her, shewoulcl only take a small part." Keep me enoughto live on," she said, " andgive the rest to the poor."From the great goodness of my priestlyfriend, we had no trouble or interference of anykind, only it was difficult to make her understandor comply with the few formalities thatwere needful for her entranceinto the inheritanceof the dead miser.Amongst other things which had belonged tohim, and been secreted by him, were manyjewels; diamonds, large as the eggs of littlebirds; and rubies and sapphires uncut. Shelooked at them, and pushed them away withdisgust." Let them be sold," she said; " there are"always the poorAnd, indeed, there are always the poor: thevast throngs born century after century, only toknow the pangs of life and of death, and nothingmore. Methinks that human life is, after all,but like a human body, with a fair and smilingface, but all the limbs ulcered and cramped and