o faens (little wheat cakes), and the fifth part of a
bottle of Graves. This modest repast cost sixteen shillings per head. We
turned out of the Luxe Hotel the following day, and came to the
National, where four hundred people were waiting to get in. But our
guide Grundy had influence, and managed to get us rooms. It is quite
comfortable.

None of us was sorry to leave Petrograd, and that is putting the case
mildly. People there are very depressed, and it was a case of "she said"
and "he said" all the time. Everyone was trying to snuff everyone else
out. "I don't know them"--and the lips pursed up finished many a
reputation, and I heard more about money and position than I ever heard
in my life before. "Bunty" and I used to say that the world was
inhabited by "nice people and very nice people," and once she added a
third class, "fearfully nice people." That is a world one used to
inhabit. I suppose one must make the best of this one!

[Page Heading: MOSCOW]

_Moscow. 2 December._--Hilda Wynne was rather feverish to-day, and lay
in bed, so I had a solitary walk about the Kremlin, and saw a fine view
from its splendid position. But, somehow, I am getting tired of
solitude. I suppose the war gives us the feeling that we must hold
together, and yet I have never been more alone than during this last
eighteen months.

* * * * *

_To Miss Macnaughtan's Sisters._

CREDIT LYONNAIS, MOSCOW,
_3 December._

MY DEARS,

I have just heard that there is a man going up to Petrograd to-night who
will put our letters in the Embassy bag, so there is some hope of this
reaching you. It is really my Christmas letter to you all, so may it be
passed round, please, although there won't be much in it.

We are now at Moscow, _en route_ for the Caucasus _via_ Tiflis, and our
base will probably be Julfa. We have been chosen to go there by the
Grand Duchess Cyril, but the reports about the roads are so conflicting
that we are going to see for ourselves. When we get there it will be
difficult to send letters home, but the banks will always be in
communication with each other, so I shall get all you send to Credit
Lyonnais, Petrograd.

So far we have been waiting for our cars all this time. They had to
come by Archangel, and they left long before we did, but they have not
arrived yet. There are six ambulance cars, on board three different
ships (for safety), and no news of any of them yet.

Now, at least,