She lived alone with a couple of old servants, and though she was rich in troops of friends, and there were one or two near her during the day or two of her illness, they did not seem to have managed matters wisely.

Our Isa was extremely obstinate about calling in medical advice.

It could not be done at a moment's notice, for a message had to be sent and a doctor to come from Florence.

And this was not done till the second day of her illness.

And I had good reason for thinking that, had she been properly attended to on the first day, her life might have been saved.
She would not let her friends send for the doctor, and the friends were unable to make her do so.