stretcher, battered and wounded, as they all are, an eye gone, and a
foot bandaged. His toes were exposed, and I went and got him rather a
gay pair of socks to pull on over his "pansement." He gave me a twinkle
out of his remaining eye, and said, "Madame, in those socks I could take
Constantinople!"

The work is slack for the moment, but a great attack is expected at
Nieuport, and they say the Kaiser is behind the lines there. His
presence hasn't brought luck so far, and I hope it won't this time.

I went to tea with Miss Close on the barge, and afterwards we picked up
M. de la Haye, and went to see an old farm, which filled me with joy.
The buildings here, except at the larger towns, are not interesting or
beautiful, but this lovely old house was evidently once a summer palace
of the bishops (perhaps of Bruges). It is called "Beau Garde," and lies
off the Coxide road. One enters what must once have been a splendid
courtyard, but it is now filled indiscriminately with soldiers and pigs.
The chapel still stands, with the Bishops' Arms on the wall; and there
are Spanish windows in the old house, and a curious dog-kennel built
into the wall. Over the gateway some massive beams have been roughly
painted in dark blue, and these, covered in ivy, and with the old
dim-toned bricks above, make a scheme of colour which is simply
enchanting. Some wind-torn trees and the sand-dunes, piled in miniature
mountains, form a delicious background to the old place.

I also went with Etta Close to visit some of the refugees for whom she
has done so much, and in the sweet spring sunshine I took a little walk
in the fields with M. de la Haye, so altogether it was a real nice day.
There were so few wounded that I was able to have a chat with each of
them, and the poor "eclopes" were happy gambling for ha'pence in the
garden of the St. Vincent.

In the evening I went up to the Kursaal to dine with Mrs. Wynne. Our two
new warriors who have come out with ambulances have stood this
_absolutely_ quiet time for three days, and are now leaving because it
is too dangerous! The shells at Adinkerke never came near them, as they
were deputed to drive to Nieuport only. (N.B.--Mrs. Wynne continues to
drive there every night!) Eight men of our corps have funked, no women.

I am going to take a week's rest before going home, in the hope that I
won't arrive looking as ill as I usually do. I hardly know how to
celebrate my holiday, as it is the first time