colspan="2" align="center">CHAPTER VII

THE SINGLE LIFE The three paths. Why Florence Nightingale did not marry—Her criticism of Dorothea in Middlemarch. II. Offers of marriage—Her ideal of marriage—The threefold nature. III. Self-devotion to her vocation—Determination to throw open new spheres for women 96   CHAPTER VIII APPRENTICESHIP AT KAISERSWERTH (1851) The struggle for independence resumed. Want of sympathy between her and her parents and sister—Unhappiness at home—A “starved” life. II. Growing spirit of revolt—The need of apprenticeship. III. Second visit to Kaiserswerth—Origin of the Institution—Account of its work—Her life there. IV. Craving for sympathy from her relations—Their hope that the apprenticeship would be only an episode 104   CHAPTER IX AN INTERLUDE (1852) The turning-point. Patience and serenity: waiting for an opportunity. II. With her father at Umberslade—The water cure—Death of her Aunt Evans—Meeting with George Eliot and Mrs. Browning—Visits to Dublin and to Birk Hall (Sir James Clark). III. Literary “Works”—Converse with her “Aunt Mai”—A new religion for the artizans. IV. A little piece of diplomacy—Florence to be free at some future specified time. V. A last attempt to keep her at home 116   CHAPTER X FREEDOM. PARIS AND HARLEY STREET (1853–October 1854) Visit to Paris—Study in the hospitals—Return to England: death of her grandmother. II. Miss Nightingale invited to take charge of an institution in Harley Street. III. Return to Paris—Study with the Sisters of Charity—Illness. IV. Superintendent of the Harley Street “Hospital for Gentlewomen”—The gentle art of managing committees—Her vocation found—A last attempt to call her back. V. A holiday at Lea Hurst—Visit from Mrs. Gaskell—Outbreak of cholera: return to London. VI. Limited scope at Harley Street—Proposal to Miss Nightingale to become matron at King's College Hospital—Lady Lovelace's prophecy 127   PART II THE CRIMEAN WAR (1854–1856)   CHAPTER I THE CALL (October 1854) The Battle of the Alma—The Times special correspondent—State of the hospitals at Scutari—Popular indignation—An appeal for nurses. II. Answer to the appeal—Lady Maria Forester and Miss Nightingale—Sidney Herbert and Miss Nightingale. III. Letters that crossed—Miss Nightingale's offer: Sidney Herbert's suggestion—Miss Nightingale's official instructions. IV. Co-operation of the Times Fund—Selection of nurses for the expedition. V. Miss Nightingale's demeanour—A pocket-book and some letters 145   CHAPTER II THE EXPEDITION—PROBLEMS AHEAD Start of the expedition—Failure to obtain Sisters of Charity in Paris—Reception of the expedition in France—Departure from Marseilles. II. Popular enthusiasm in England—Account of Miss Nightingale in the newspapers—Public subscriptions—Other nurses volunteering. III. Miss Nightingale's plans—Importance of her experiment—Difficulties ahead—Military prejudice: Sir Anthony Sterling's letters—Medical jealousy: Sir John Hall's letters—Religious rivalries—Miss Nightingale's policy 162   CHAPTER III THE HOSPITALS AT SCUTARI Arrival at the Golden Horn. The Scutari hospitals—The General Hospital—The Barrack Hospital: quarters of Miss Nightingale and her staff—The Palace Hospital—The Koulali Hospitals. II. State of the hospitals when Miss Nightingale arrived—Report of the Roebuck Committee—Terrible death-rate—The root of the evil: division of responsibility—Need of individual initiative 171   CHAPTER IV THE EXPERT'S TOUCH The Battle of Balaclava. Miss Nightingale's reception at Scutari: letter from Lord Raglan—Difficulties with the doctors—Miss Nightingale at work in the wards—Difficulties with the nurses. II. Dispatch of a second party of nurses under Miss Stanley, accompanied by Mr. Jocelyne Percy—Miss Nightingale's indignant surprise—Mr. Herbert's promise not to send out more nurses except at her requisition—Danger of ruining the experiment—Medical opposition—Aggravation of the religious difficulty—Arrangements for placing the Stanley party—Significance of the episode in relation to the novelty of the experiment. III. Deficiency of requisites in the hospitals—Miss Nightingale's appeal to the British Ambassador—Her washing reforms—Her “Extra Diet” Kitchens—Alexis Soyer—Sorry plight of the camp-followers—Establishment of a lying-in hospital—Dr. Andrew Smith and the female eye 181   CHAPTER V THE ADMINISTRATOR Miss Nightingale's varied functions. Purveyor-Auxiliary to the hospitals—Ignorance of the Ambassador as to the true