CHAPTER V A WINTER IN ROME; AND AFTER (1847-1849) A tour that confirmed a vocation. Sight-seeing in Rome--Admiration for Michael Angelo--The revelation of the Sistine Chapel--The obsession of Rome. II. Italian politics--Pio Nono as Patriot Hero. III. The convent of the Trinità de' Monti--Study of Roman doctrine and ritual--Friendship with the Madre Sta. Colomba--A retreat in the convent--The secret of devotion. IV. Meeting with Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Herbert and with Manning--The London season--Friendship with Lord Shaftesbury--Self-reproaches. V. A projected visit to Kaiserswerth (1848): disappointment again--Acquaintance with Guizot--Ragged school work in London 69 CHAPTER VI FOREIGN TRAVEL: EGYPT AND GREECE (1849-1850) Another fruitless distraction. A winter in Egypt--Thebes --Condition of the people--Impressions of Egyptian scenery. II. Athens--Doric architecture--Greek scenery. III. Political affairs --The "Don Pacifico" crisis--The Ionian Islands: a day with the High Commissioner. IV. American missionaries at Athens--Dresden --Visit to Kaiserswerth. V. The literary "temptation"--Her view of literary art--Her _Letters from Egypt_ 84 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)