3. That, so to speak, was her “job”; but she never grew one-sided; never forgot the man’s point of view. No woman ever took a saner and wider view of human affairs.
4. In spite of the heavy strain thrown by conflicting outlook and ideals on the relation between parents and child, the reader will see in the following pages how that relationship was preserved. This is perhaps the most remarkable thing in the whole history, and it is full of significance and helpful suggestion for us all in these critical days.
5. And lastly, it proved impossible to write the life in any other way. When S. J.-B. was a young woman, Samuel Laurence was asked by her parents to make a crayon drawing of her. After some hours’ work, he threw down his pencil. “I must get you in oils or not at all,” he said.
Those words have often been in the mind of the author of this book.
CHAPTER I PAGE CHILDHOOD 1 Birth, parentage and descent—Early influences— “Sweet Sackermena.”
CHAPTER II SCHOOL LIFE 11 A “terrible pickle”—Home letters—Holidays—“Poems”— A confession.
CHAPTER III SCHOOL LIFE—_Continued_ 24 Indifferent health—Various educational experiments—S. J.-B.’s character as seen by her schoolfellows.
CHAPTER IV SCHOOL LIFE—_Concluded_ 35 Leaves school abruptly—Fresh start—Illness of her mother and sister—Letter from her father— Confirmation.
CHAPTER V LIFE AT HOME 50 Friendship with her mother—Dreams of authorship— Self-centred life—Makes acquaintance of Norfolk cousins.
CHAPTER VI LIFE AT QUEEN’S COLLEGE 62 Comes into touch with Feminist movement—Goes to Queen’s College—Friction—Hunt for lodgings—Is appointed mathematical tutor—Correspondence with her father as to accepting payment for her work— Certificate won “with great credit.”
CHAPTER VII FRIENDSHIP 78 All-round development—Capacity for friendship and service—Friendship with Miss Octavia Hill.
CHAPTER VIII A STEP BEYOND 95 Confidence in her mother—Fresh dedication of her life.
CHAPTER IX FIRST EXPERIENCE OF EDINBURGH 103 The problem of realizing the vision—Goes to study educational methods in Edinburgh—Chequered experiences—Church-going and religious difficulties—Consults Rev. Dr. Pulsford—Letters from her mother—An “increasing purpose.”
CHAPTER X GERMANY 117 Miss Garrett’s efforts to obtain medical education—Comes to prospect in Edinburgh—She and S. J.-B. go canvassing together—Disappointment— S. J.-B.’s desire to study educational methods farther afield—Germany—Göttingen—Mannheim— Appointed English teacher at Grand-ducal Institute.