It was indeed a hard cross to bear for a woman comparatively young and with a mind full of humanitarian projects, and as the first years of waiting passed Florence Nightingale drank deep of the cup of life’s disappointments. But she faced the situation with noble resignation. All through the land were brave fellows who had returned from the war maimed or shattered in health, and the soldier’s nurse showed the soldier’s heroism in the service of her country. But though compelled to be a recluse, not a day of Miss Nightingale’s time was passed unoccupied. Work, work, ever work, was her great panacea. She spent a good deal of her time in London, for she liked to be in the “hum” of things and within easy communication of kindred spirits in the great city. Her sick-room might have passed for an adjunct of the War Office, so filled was it with schemes for army hospital reform and communications from all sorts and conditions of soldiers. Whenever “Tommy” had a grievance, he wrote to Miss Nightingale. She was still his Lady-in-Chief, and invested in his mind with unlimited power and influence, and to some extent he was not mistaken. The War Office authorities had such a profound belief in Miss Nightingale’s judgment and discrimination that any recommendation made by her received attention. She was able to render help to deserving men with regard to their pensions, and in procuring civil occupation for the maimed and disabled, while she was an ever-helpful friend to the widows and orphans, and by her influence obtained grants from the Patriotic Fund for many destitute soldiers’ families. The amount of work of this kind which Miss Nightingale did in the year succeeding the war is incalculable. When in 1854 her name had first come before the public, nothing was known of Miss Nightingale, but now that it was understood that she was the daughter of a rich and influential gentleman, she was overwhelmed with begging letters. These increased to such an extent that she was forced to make a public protest in _The Times_ and state her inability to reply to the letters which poured in upon her. However, let it be stated to the honour of the army that not a single begging letter for money was ever sent to Miss Nightingale by a British soldier.