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