e came in. It is much more fun camping out in our own little empty
house than in the grand Chateau--but I didn't have time to look at
nearly all the lovely engravings there.

Streams of columns have been passing all day; one gun-team had to turn
back because one of the off horses jibbed and refused to go any farther.

Though it is past 11 P.M. the sounds outside are too interesting to go
to sleep; the bangs are getting louder; those who _viennent des
tranches_ are tramping down and transport waggons rattling up!

_Monday, April 12th._--No mail to-day. This has been a very quiet day,
fewer columns, aeroplanes, and guns, and the three bad officers holding
their own so far. The others come and go.

_Tuesday, April 13th._--There is something quite fiendish about the
crackling of the rifle firing to-night, and every now and then a gun
like "Mother" speaks and shakes the town. Last night it was quite
quiet. All leave has been stopped to-day, and there are the wildest
rumours going about of a big naval engagement, the forcing of the
Narrows, and the surrender of St Mihiel, and anything else you like!

These Medical Officers have always hung on to the most hopeless, both
here and at the Hospice, beyond the last hope, and when they pull
through there is great rejoicing.

It doesn't seem somehow the right thing to do, to undress and get into
bed with these crashes going on, but I suppose staying up won't stop it!

_Wednesday, April 14th._--Very quiet day; it always is after exciting
rumours which come to nothing! But it has been noisier than usual in the
daytime. I rested in my off-time and didn't go out.

The Victoria League sent some awfully nice lavender bags to-day, and
some tins of Keating's, which will be of future use, I expect. Just now,
one is mercifully and strangely free from the Minor Scourges of War.

The German trenches captured at Neuve Chapelle, and now occupied by us,
are full of legs and arms, which emerge when you dig. Some are still
caught on the barbed wire and can't be taken away.

We are not being at all clever with our rations just now, and manage to
have indescribably nasty and uneatable meals! But we shall get it better
in time, by taking a little more trouble over it.

We had scrambled eggs to-night, which I made standing on a chair,
because the gas-ring is so high, and Sister holding up a very small dim
oil-lamp. But they were a great success. And then we had soup with fried
potatoes i