"I am one of her
friends from America. Please take my card to her."
This mollified the faithful secretary, but the word instantly came back
that Miss Nightingale was not receiving any one that day. Bok wrote
her a letter asking for an appointment, which was never answered. Then
he wrote another, took it personally to the house, and awaited an
answer, only to receive the message that "Miss Nightingale says there
is no answer to the letter."
Bok had with such remarkable uniformity secured whatever he sought,
that these experiences were new to him. Frankly, they puzzled him. He
was not easily baffled, but baffled he now was, and that twice in
succession. Turn as he might, he could find no way in which to reopen
an approach to either the Oxford tutor or the Crimean nurse. They were
plainly too much for him, and he had to acknowledge his defeat. The
experience was good for him; he did not realize this at the time, nor
did he enjoy the sensation of not getting what he wanted.
Nevertheless, a reverse or two was due.
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