Besides, two of the men had been fighting and one was so
seriously injured by a blow upon his head by a club, that he had been
sent to the hospital and it was thought he would die. Under the
circumstances "Would the ladies excuse him?" and Alice was obliged to
give up her search in that direction.
She had been so impressed with the reality of her dreams that she had
thought she could easily recognize her husband's surroundings, but
she confessed to Babette, who was sympathetic and engaged eagerly in
the search, that she had seen no place that resembled the scene of
her dreams.
More weary wandering without result followed, and so intent was she
on the object of her search that the beauties of "Sunny Italy" were
lost upon her. The weather was hot and enervating and Babette
suggested that her mistress should go to Switzerland and rest before
continuing her search. Alice consented, but when they reached Vienna
she was too ill to proceed farther. Babette was at home in Vienna for
she could speak German, and she soon learned that the Hospital of St.
Stephen's would give her mistress the rest and medical treatment that
her condition required--for she was on the verge of nervous
prostration. The discomfort of travelling was not the cause of her
physical break-down for Aunt Ella had told her "that nothing was too
good for a traveller" and every comfort and convenience that money
could supply had been hers.
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