Christobel

Christobel Part 13

 

Chapter 13: the journal

10th March, 1913

Back at work! After six blissful months of being a stay-at-home mother, seeing Jacques through the first crucial months of babyhood, when he most needed me, now I am a "working mother." Mother said in her last letter that she fully approves, as Jacques will be well cared for (that's true; he will even have a wet nurse for a few more months until he's fully weaned) and at the same time I can return to my calling. She opines as a Suffragist that it's a sign of the future; one day, she says, when women are fully emancipated, they will be able to choose to pursue careers and raise families, even lower middle-class women, should they so wish. Perhaps she's right; Mother is a visionary. I shall miss spending the days with my little boy, but on the other hand I'm glad to be back doing the work I love. I can't have it both ways!

So, I've returned to nursing and promotion to the post of Sister, as Miss Cavell promised, back at the Institute at rue de la Culture. She was pleased to see me back, and seems reconciled to the notion (in my case at least; I don't know about the other girls) that it is possible for women to both work and raise families; to have their cake and eat it. Although I acknowledge that I'm in a somewhat privileged position, as Henri can afford to hire help for childcare. I have that option where many women don't.

And now, with promotion, I'm in charge of an entire ward: Male Surgical. Sometimes I will be assisting at the operations too, as I have some experience of it, so that will make the work nicely varied. I can oversee the progress of patients right through from operation to convalescence on my ward until they are ready to go home, which will be very satisfying.

29th June, 1914

There was rather disturbing news in the newspaper today. It seems that there's been an assassination, of Crown Prince Franz Ferdinand of Austria, by a nationalist hothead in Sarajevo, Serbia. It happened yesterday when the Crown Prince was visiting the city. According to the newspaper, Austria is absolutely furious about it. Well, that's understandable I suppose. Imagine what the reaction would be if one of the British Royal Family were killed! Or the Belgian one, for that matter.

There would probably be an instant declaration of war, because that's always the first reaction of the men who rule countries. I'm sure they see it as much a case of wounded national pride as a reaction to an outrage, which admittedly this was. Whatever was that foolish, murderous young man Gavrilo Princip thinking he was doing, killing a prospective Head of State? What did he hope to achieve? But that said, nothing is ever solved by simply hitting back at outrages like that with force of arms. It usually only escalates things; makes them far worse instead of better. That's what Mother would say, and I agree with her.

Well, let us hope that the sorry incident doesn't escalate, that's all I say. After all, we're now well into the second decade of the twentieth century. Surely, after all the stupid, brutal wars there have been, the nations of Europe have learned to live in peace, haven't they?

29th July, 1914

Well, it's as I feared. Another worrying report in the newspaper. Yesterday, after much sabre-rattling from Austria and Serbia's rejecting of their five-point ultimatum, Austria has declared war on them. I know the assassination of the Prince was a terrible thing, but it doesn't warrant a war over it, surely? Now there'll be many, many other deaths and maiming and cruelty and destruction and misery. Stupid, stupid men!

Tensions are rising but I still cling to the hope that other countries won't be dragged in. It would be too terrible if they were. It's going to be horrific enough as it is without Europe descending into even greater darkness.