doctor's wife at the table avoided any communication with me, and that as I walked backwards and forwards to college the ladies stopped to stare at me, as at a curious animal. I afterwards found that I had so shocked Geneva propriety that the theory was fully established either that I was a bad woman, whose designs would gradually become evident, or that, being insane, an outbreak of insanity would soon be apparent. Feeling the unfriendliness of the people, though quite unaware of all this gossip, I never walked abroad, but hastening daily to my college as to a sure refuge, I knew when I shut the great doors behind me that I shut out all unkindly criticism, and I soon felt perfectly at home amongst my fellow-students.
The following extracts from my journal of those days show how any early difficulties were successfully overcome:—
November 9.—My first happy day; I feel really
encouraged. The little fat Professor of Anatomy is a
capital fellow; certainly I shall love fat men more than
lean ones henceforth. He gave just the go-ahead directing
impulse needful; he will afford me every advantage,
and says I shall graduate with éclat. Then, too, I am
glad that they like the notoriety of the thing, and think
it a good 'spec.'
November 10.—Attended the demonstrator's evening lecture—very clear—how superior to books! Oh, this is the way to learn! The class behaves very well; and people seem all to grow kind.
November 11.—Anatomy very interesting to-day; two admirable demonstrations. Dr. Webster, full of
