ular nursing, and she also tried
not to lose courage when no word came from Mildred. Neither from
newspapers nor inquiries in all possible directions could she even learn
whether Grovno had fallen.
She was unable to read the newspapers for herself and so was compelled
to wait until one of the other nurses could find time to laboriously
translate the information into English.
Evidently at the present time the Russian papers did not desire the
Russian people to learn the fate of the fortress and its commander. For
all news on the subject was carefully withheld.
Under the strain Barbara might have broken down herself except for a
piece of good fortune that at length came to Nona and to her.
An American woman, married to a Russian, the Countess Sergius, learning
of the presence of the two American Red Cross nurses in the Russian
hospital, called at once to see if she could do anything for their
comfort. Discovering Nona ill and Barbara on the verge of a breakdown,
the American woman insisted that the girls be her guests. They were not
able to be of special assistance at the hospital under the present
circumstances, while a week or so of rest and change might do wonders
for them both.
In answer to Nona's protest that she was not well enough to be an
agreeable visitor and could not bear the ordeal of meeting strangers,
the older woman announced that the girls could live as quietly as they
liked. She would let them have a private apartment in her house and they
need see no one except the servants who would look after them.
As the American Countess was undoubtedly extremely wealthy and most
anxious to be of service, Barbara and Nona gratefully accepted her
invitation. So about ten days after their arrival in Petrograd they were
living in one of the handsomest houses along the famous Nevski Prospect.
This is the Fifth Avenue of Petrograd, a wide avenue three miles in
length. Nothing is small in Russia or in the Russian people.
The girls were delightfully comfortable. One-half the third floor of the
great house had been given up to them, consisting of two bedrooms, a
bath, and a sitting room where their meals were served.
Indeed, the girls soon discovered that although the Countess meant to be
hospitable and kind, she was sincerely glad that they wished to be left
alone. She was an extremely busy woman, one of the important hostesses
of Petrograd in times of peace. But now, like most society women in the
allied c
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