Summer With a Countess [pp. 473-479]

SU,VMER WITH A COUNTESS.
effect, that, no matter what her zeal and
capabilities, her youth would prevent her
entering the nunnery; and even were that
unobjectionable, it would require a long
probation before the veil could be be stowed, enabling her to enter upon re sponsible duty. Nothing daunted, she
besought her sister and a famous Count ess, who was an intimate friend of the
Pope, to intercede in her behalf. She
was granted audience, but at once pro nounced too young and lovely to assume
the desired position. Upon a second
presentation, she had, with a woman's
ingenuity, attired herself in the robes of
a Sister of Mercy. With the golden hair
confined out of sight, the cold, harsh
band of white muslin bound across her
brow, the dreary drapery of black, and a
serene face, she appeared ten years old er. Then, with her fine command of
language, she plead so eloquently that
his Holiness was struck with her womanly arguments and zealous persistency,
and, yielding to her entreaties, gave her
his blessing, and bade her go forth to
the good work. He recommended her
to the Empress of the French, to whom
she was presented by General Bazaine.
At that time, Eugonie contemplated a
visit to the seat of war, and, being charmed with the fair English girl, received
her as a Maid of Honor, to take out with
her, and dissuade, if possible, from an
ambition to go into the hospitals. So,
for months, she dwelt, in her new and
delightful position, at the palace; but the
Empress altogether abandoning the project of going to the Crimea, Th6rdse held
her to her promise, securing a place
among the Sueurs, with whom she departed from France.
For two years, the young nun won the
admiration and praise of the Sisterhood
and officers, by her untiring care of the
sick and wounded. With a vigorous
constitution and'a brave, tender heart,
she went about her duties, accomplishing more than older heads. At one time,
a vessel containing a thousand Russians,
mostly wounded, came into port, after a
severe battle. Every body was warned
away from the ship, which bore fever and
cholera patients, as well as cripples.
But the delicate young nun was the first
to climb the vessel's side from the tiny
caYque that had borne her from the shore.
Going from wound to wound of the most
agonizing character, she bathed and
bound them up; and, amid the shrieks
and groans of the dying, administered
consolation.
Major Yelverton, of the English serv ice, again met her, and was more than
ever lost in admiration of her noble char acter. Upon their return, they were be trothed, and became man and wife in
Scotland; also, according to the Catho lic Church, in Ireland. Of their tran quil, happy wedded life she told me
much; also, of the circumstances of his
deserting her, and all her succeeding
troubles, when the entire United King dom was in an excitement over her fa mous eighteen trials in English, Irish,
and Scotch courts, when large sums of
money were deposited in bank by sympathizing strangers and titled men, to
enable her to meet expenses; and of
Major Yelverton's running away to the
Continent, and being burnt in effigy at
home, while the enthusiasm in her favor
was so great that the horses were taken
away and her carriage drawn by the people through the streets.
So gentle and sweet- voiced, so doveeyed and so loving was she, that I often
wondered if this were the woman of force
and character, whose heroism in defending her title to lawful wife won the sympathy and admiration of Great Britain
and of the world.
But one night, when news came of
Napoleon's downfall, springing from her
chair, her blue eyes becoming black, as
she eloquently defended the French soldiers and denounced their cowardly leaders, I not only comprehended her Cor
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