besides this, they had scarcely any means to use.  I have walked through the wards with Margaret, and seen how comforting was her presence to the poor suffering men.  ’How long will the Signora stay?’ ’When will the Signora come again?’ they eagerly asked.  For each one’s peculiar tastes she had a care:  to one she carried books; to another she told the news of the day; and listened to another’s oft-repeated tale of wrongs, as the best sympathy she could give.  They raised themselves up on their elbows, to get the last glimpse of her as she was going away.  There were some of the sturdy fellows of Garibaldi’s Legion there, and to them she listened, as they spoke with delight of their chief, of his courage and skill; for he seemed to have won the hearts of his men in a remarkable manner.

“One incident I may as well narrate in this connection.  It happened, that, some time before the coming of the French, while Margaret was travelling quite by herself, on her return from a visit to her child, who was out at nurse in the country, she rested for an hour or two at a little wayside osteria.  While there, she was startled by the padrone, who, with great alarm, rushed into the room, and said, ’We are quite lost! here is the Legion Garibaldi!  These men always pillage, and, if we do not give all up to them without pay, they will kill us.’  Margaret looked out upon the road, and saw that it was quite true, that the legion was coming thither with all speed.  For a moment, she said, she felt uncomfortably; for such was the exaggerated account of the conduct of the men, that she thought it quite possible that they would take her horses, and so leave her without the means of proceeding on her journey.  On they came, and she determined to offer them a lunch at her own expense; having faith that gentleness and courtesy was the best protection from injury.  Accordingly, as soon as they arrived, and rushed boisterously into the osteria, she rose, and said to the padrone, ’Give these good men wine and bread on my account; for, after their ride, they must need refreshment.’  Immediately, the noise and confusion subsided; with respectful bows to her, they seated themselves and partook of the lunch, giving her an account of their journey.  When she was ready to go, and her vettura was at the door, they waited upon her, took down the steps, and assisted her with much gentleness and respectfulness of manner, and she drove off, wondering how men with such natures could have the reputation they had.  And, so far as we could gather, except in this instance, their conduct was of a most disorderly kind.

“Again, on another occasion, she showed how great was her power over rude men.  This was when two contadini at Rieti, being in a violent quarrel, had rushed upon each other with knives.  Margaret was called by the women bystanders, as the Signora who could most influence them to peace.  She went directly up to the men, whose