Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 7.djvu/419

CA-RE OF THE SICK AND WOUNDED. 375 and official acts of obedience, but — overcomiiiu' all c H a i'. XI obstacles, to succour, to save our prostrate soldiery, '__ and turn into a well-ordered hospital the hell — the appalling hell — of the vast Barrack wards and corridors. Nature seemed, as it were, to ordain that in such a conjuncture, the all-essen- tial power which our cramped, over-disciplined males had chosen to leave unexerted should pass to one who would seize it, should pass to one who could wield it — should pass to the Lady-in- Chief. To have power was an essential condition of success in her sacred cause ; and of power ac- cordingly she knew and felt the worth, rightly judging that in all sorts of matters within what she deemed its true range, her word must be law. Like other dictators, she had cast upon her one duty which no one can hope to per- form without exciting cavil. For the sake of the cause, she had to maintain her dictatorship, and (on pain of seeing her efforts defeated by anar- chical action) to check the growth of authority — of authority in even small matters — if not derived from herself. She was apparently care- ful in this direction ; and, though outwardly calm when provoked, could give strong effect to her anger. On the other hand, when seeing merit in the labours of others, slie was ready with generous praise.(^) It was hardly in the nature of things that her sway should excite no jeal- ousies, or that always, hand in hand with the energy which made her great enterprise possible, there should be the cold, accurate justice at