CHAPTER II

HOME LIFE (1839-1845)

A struggle for freedom. Life in London--Music--The Bedchamber Plot. II. Country-house life--The charm of Embley--Contrast between Florence and her sister. III. The family circle--Florence's "boy" --Florence as "Emergency Man"--Her old nurse--Letter to Miss Clarke on the death of M. Fauriel--Theatricals at Waverley Abbey--Florence as stage-manager. IV. Friends and neighbours--Lord Palmerston --Louisa Lady Ashburton--Mrs. Bracebridge. V. Florence's conversation--Social attractiveness--Personal appearance: descriptions by Lady Lovelace and Mrs. Gaskell. VI. Dissatisfaction in social life--Desultoriness of a girl's life at home--The misery of being read aloud to--Housekeeping. VII. Increasing sense of a vocation--Private studies--Thoughts of nursing--A first dash for liberty (1845): failure 23