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Authors: Marita Conlon-Mckenna
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wet, but longing to do it all over again.
They went on the helter-skelter, the swing boats, the big carousel, and watched a hilarious Punch and Judy show. Nellie had also noticed a tantalizing hot-air balloon floating high in the sky and persuaded her sisters to come along to see it. The balloon itself was enormous and seemed to wobble and move in the air, a fierce gushing sound emanating from it every now and then as a gas burner heated the air that filled it. There was also a large wicker basket attached to the balloon and the man who owned it would permit a few people to clamber in, and then release the hot-air-filled balloon to fly upwards into the sky.
Nellie watched entranced as it lifted off, climbing higher and higher above their heads, the passengers in their basket seeming almost to disappear. However, the huge balloon was tethered and anchored firmly to the ground to stop it from floating away. It was the most thrilling thing she had ever seen and she just knew she had to try it.
Eventually their turn came. Nellie paid for her sisters to come with her and they all climbed in. She was shaking with nerves as the basket began to wobble and tilt. Suddenly it lifted as the balloon filled and moved upwards, the basket lurching off the ground as they went higher and higher. She held on to her hat as she felt the wind catch it, and looking down below she could see the heads of people, the lake and the carousel all becoming more and more distant.
Afraid, Muriel had clenched her eyes tightly shut.
âOpen them,â Nellie urged her sister, feeling giddy and excited. âLook around â it is amazing. We are flying, like birds high in the sky, like the aviator Mr Wright and his brother.â
Far below she could see the roads of the city and the churches, Sandymount Strand and Dublin Bay, with a few sailing boats bobbing in the waves. Nellie dearly wished that she could stay up here for ever, that the balloon would slip its anchor ropes so they could fly away across the blue, blue sky â¦
Ten minutes later the hot-air balloon began to descend. Disappointed, Nellie took a firm grip on the basket as the exhibition and visitors all came gradually back into focus and they landed with a thud where they had started.
Her legs felt weak, but she would have adored to have gone straight back up again.
Father, to their surprise, had booked a large table in the Palace Restaurant so they could dine in fine style before attending that nightâs concert.
âIt is all so beautiful here,â sighed Mother, looking dreamily around her, âbut what will happen when the exhibition ends in November?â
âThe Earl of Pembroke gave this land to the council to honour his son Herbertâs coming of age, and some say that in the future it may become a public park,â said Father.
As the sky grew dark and night fell, they watched thousands of lights illuminate the Italianate terraces and the palaces and lake, and Nellie vowed to return to visit the wonderful exhibition again.
Chapter 12
Muriel
MURIEL SAT NERVOUSLY awaiting her turn to be interviewed by the lady superintendent in charge of Sir Patrick Dunâs Nursing School. Miss Haughton had a formidable reputation and was said to be ruthless in weeding out those she considered unsuitable to train as probationers in the hospital.
This interview was hugely important to Muriel â she had her heart set on becoming a nurse. She was growing tired of assisting Mother with her church work, and was bored attending the rounds of teas, lunches, balls and other engagements that filled an unmarried young ladyâs social calendar. She had always considered nursing a fine profession and now that she was twenty-one she was finally old enough to apply for the nursing school here at Sir Patrick Dunâs.
Suddenly the heavy wooden door opened and a tall girl emerged, looking red-faced and flustered. Muriel wished she could ask her about the interview, but
They went on the helter-skelter, the swing boats, the big carousel, and watched a hilarious Punch and Judy show. Nellie had also noticed a tantalizing hot-air balloon floating high in the sky and persuaded her sisters to come along to see it. The balloon itself was enormous and seemed to wobble and move in the air, a fierce gushing sound emanating from it every now and then as a gas burner heated the air that filled it. There was also a large wicker basket attached to the balloon and the man who owned it would permit a few people to clamber in, and then release the hot-air-filled balloon to fly upwards into the sky.
Nellie watched entranced as it lifted off, climbing higher and higher above their heads, the passengers in their basket seeming almost to disappear. However, the huge balloon was tethered and anchored firmly to the ground to stop it from floating away. It was the most thrilling thing she had ever seen and she just knew she had to try it.
Eventually their turn came. Nellie paid for her sisters to come with her and they all climbed in. She was shaking with nerves as the basket began to wobble and tilt. Suddenly it lifted as the balloon filled and moved upwards, the basket lurching off the ground as they went higher and higher. She held on to her hat as she felt the wind catch it, and looking down below she could see the heads of people, the lake and the carousel all becoming more and more distant.
Afraid, Muriel had clenched her eyes tightly shut.
âOpen them,â Nellie urged her sister, feeling giddy and excited. âLook around â it is amazing. We are flying, like birds high in the sky, like the aviator Mr Wright and his brother.â
Far below she could see the roads of the city and the churches, Sandymount Strand and Dublin Bay, with a few sailing boats bobbing in the waves. Nellie dearly wished that she could stay up here for ever, that the balloon would slip its anchor ropes so they could fly away across the blue, blue sky â¦
Ten minutes later the hot-air balloon began to descend. Disappointed, Nellie took a firm grip on the basket as the exhibition and visitors all came gradually back into focus and they landed with a thud where they had started.
Her legs felt weak, but she would have adored to have gone straight back up again.
Father, to their surprise, had booked a large table in the Palace Restaurant so they could dine in fine style before attending that nightâs concert.
âIt is all so beautiful here,â sighed Mother, looking dreamily around her, âbut what will happen when the exhibition ends in November?â
âThe Earl of Pembroke gave this land to the council to honour his son Herbertâs coming of age, and some say that in the future it may become a public park,â said Father.
As the sky grew dark and night fell, they watched thousands of lights illuminate the Italianate terraces and the palaces and lake, and Nellie vowed to return to visit the wonderful exhibition again.
Chapter 12
Muriel
MURIEL SAT NERVOUSLY awaiting her turn to be interviewed by the lady superintendent in charge of Sir Patrick Dunâs Nursing School. Miss Haughton had a formidable reputation and was said to be ruthless in weeding out those she considered unsuitable to train as probationers in the hospital.
This interview was hugely important to Muriel â she had her heart set on becoming a nurse. She was growing tired of assisting Mother with her church work, and was bored attending the rounds of teas, lunches, balls and other engagements that filled an unmarried young ladyâs social calendar. She had always considered nursing a fine profession and now that she was twenty-one she was finally old enough to apply for the nursing school here at Sir Patrick Dunâs.
Suddenly the heavy wooden door opened and a tall girl emerged, looking red-faced and flustered. Muriel wished she could ask her about the interview, but
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