res, he replied that he was paralysed
and couldn't move, but that he knew God would send someone to take him
away; and he smiled gently at them, and was taken away in their
ambulance.

Madame gave me a shell-case, and asked Mr. Thompson if he would bring in
his large piece to show us. He wheeled it across the hall, as no one
could lift it, and this was only the _base_ of a 15-inch shell. It was
picked up in the garden of the hospital, and had travelled fifteen
miles!

The other day I went to see for myself some of the poor refugees at
Coxide. There were twenty-five people in one small cottage. Some were
sleeping in a cart. One weeping woman, wearing the little black woollen
cap which all the women wear, told me that she and her family had to fly
from their little farm at Lombaertzyde because it was being shelled by
the Germans, but afterwards, when all seemed quiet, they went back to
their home to save the cows. Alas, the Germans were there! They made
this woman (who was expecting a baby) and all her family stand in a row,
and one girl of twenty, the eldest daughter, was shot before their eyes.
When the poor mother begged for the body of her child it was refused
her.

The _Times_ list of atrocities is too frightful, and all the evidence
has been sifted and proved to be true.

_20 May._--Yesterday I arranged with Major du Pont about leaving the
station to go home and give lectures in England. Then I had a good deal
to do, so I abandoned my plan of visiting refugees with Etta Close, and
stayed on at the station. At 5.30 I came back to La Panne to see
Countess de Caraman Chimay, the dame d'honneur of the Queen of the
Belgians; then I went on to dine with the nurses at the "Ocean." Here I
heard that Adinkerke, which I had just left, was being shelled.
Fortunately, the station being there, I hope the inhabitants got away;
but it was unpleasant to hear the sound of guns so near. I knew the
three Belgian Sisters would be all right, as they have a good cellar at
their house, and I could trust Lady Bagot's staff to look after her. All
the same, it was a horrible night, full of anxiety, and there seems
little doubt that La Panne will be shelled any day. My one wish
is--let's all behave well.

I watched the sunset over the sea, and longed to be in England; but,
naturally, one means to stick it, and not leave at a nasty time.

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_21 May._--Yesterday, at the station, there was a poor fellow lying on a