Yours aff.
E. P.”
This is simply quoted to show the state—not indeed of despair, but of desperation, which these gallant women had reached. One can sympathize with this cri du coeur from S. J.-B.’s diary:
“Here comes Miss Irby’s note this morning,—wanting a hospital for the wounded at Serajevo.... Oh, dear, how I should love to go! It would probably be just the making of me as a surgeon,—and I have such a sort of wild feeling of wanting to ‘break out,’—of having been sair hadden doun by many bubbly jocks,—by the constant fighting, by Mother’s frequent illnesses, etc., etc. I feel as if it would be an intense relief to break right away into half savage parts and do hard rough work—and breathe!
And then how nice it would be with Miss Irby.... I want to get away from mental strain and excitement,—to bodily hard work.
And what magnificent practice it would be!”
“U. D. P. against Serbian idea. Thinks my Mother would die in my absence and I never forgive myself.
Also I should hurt ‘the cause’ by doctoring men.
I doubt both propositions, but can’t disprove either.