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28 February 1888 — Naples | |
Tuesday. 28th [February 1888]. Doctor Malbrane came at 10 & after examining Ola carefully he told me she had decidedly got typhoid fever– Then suddenly he said after giving various directions “And why do you not take the young lady home!” I stand & said do you recommend it. He said he did only we must start at once– In 2 days time she would not be able to be moved. I called Henry & startled him with the proposition but the Dr was so positive that we there & then decided to be off. It was then nearly 11 & our train started at 2. The Dr wrote an account of Ola’s illness for Cini when we should arrive– He told me to feed her with wine & water, milk & soup & no solids & he took leave. I dressed Ola & packed for her. Gigia also packed as quickly as she could & Luigi took off the luggage soon after 12 as the omnibus went early the station being so far. Mr Newdigate brought me some flowers & I told him we were going by the same train as he, as he was returning to Rome. Mrs Watts came to say goodbye. He was in bed with lumbago. Abt 2 we set off—Ola seemed pretty strong & walked down to the carriage. At the station we found that the line via Bologna was interrupted by the snow & we should have to go via Genoa & Milan thus adding 4 hours to the journey. It was a bad beginning & very discouraging. The Dss Ravaschieri followed me from the Hotel where she had come to pay me a visit. She was very kind & sympathetic. We got a “cabinet for 3” in the Restaurant wagon Pullman as far as Rome—but unfortunately Ola could not lie down as it was too small—& she had the fever at its worst abt 5. Henry & I had a bad dinner in the saloon. The waiter recognised us & was very civil, he was the “Emilio” of old days at the Hotel de Rome at Venice when we used to stay there. We got to Rome at 7.50 & had the good luck to get 4 places in the sleeping car to ourselves. Ola was allowed to wait in the station master’s room while the train was being made up. Luigi flew off to the Chemist to buy a bottle of apollinaris water for our journey. We bought milk also. Mr Newdigate who went as far as Rome by the same train as he kindly took charge of my guitar to give to Lilah Bagot as I could not carry it further. At 9.15 our train started on. We lighted the Etna & had some tea & then I undressed Ola & put her to bed & she slept most of the night. I climbed onto the berth above Henry & we got through the night very well tho’ I slept with one eye open from anxiety. Abt 8 we dressed & prepared some tea. There was a splendid sunrise over the sea as we approached Genoa. There we got about 9.15 and had to change trains. We were lucky eno’ to get a coupé lit and we were able to make Ola pretty comfortable. We got her some good broth & started off getting to Milan at 1.10. It was very cold & the snow was deep all over the country near Genoa– At Milan we changed again trains & got another coupé lit & some fresh milk wh I boiled at once & gave to Ola as we went along. At last at 7.30 we reached Venice & got Ola safely home– She was a good deal weaker but managed to drag herself upstairs & I put her to bed in our room & sent for Dr Cini. He came at 9 & confirmed Dr Malbrane’s opinion that Ola has typhoid fever—& found her temperature very high. He said we had done quite right to bring her straight home wh was an immense relief to me as I had worried myself on that score all the way home. I made him say it twice over & he added that probably the change of air wd be in her favor. Annie sat up with her & I went to bed. | |
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