till at Sotteville. One of our coaches is
off being repaired here, and goodness knows how long we shall be stuck.

Had a walk this morning along the line. The train puffed past me on its
way to Rouen for water. I tried to make the engine-driver stop by
spreading myself out in front of the engine, but he "shooed" me out of
the way, and after some deliberation I seized a brass rail and leapt on
to the footboard about half-way down the train; it wasn't at all
difficult after all. We had Seymour Hicks' lot tacked on behind us; they
are doing performances for the Hospitals and Rest-camps in Rouen to-day,
but unfortunately we are too far out to go in.

_Thursday, December 31st, New Year's Eve._--Still at Sotteville, and
clemmed with cold. There was no paraffin on the train this morning, so
we couldn't even have the passage lamps lit.

This afternoon I went with Major ---- and the French Major and the
little fat French Caporal (who is the same class as the French Major--or
better) into Rouen, and they trotted us round sight-seeing. The little
Caporal showed us all the points of the cathedrals, and the
twelfth-century stone pictures on the north porch and on the towers, and
also the church of St Maclou with the wonderful "Ossuare" cloisters, now
a college for Jeunes Filles. We had tea in the town and trammed back.
This evening, New Year's Eve, the French Staff had decorated the
Restaurant with Chinese lanterns, and we had a festive New Year's Eve
dinner, with chicken, and Xmas pudding on fire, and Sauterne and
Champagne and crackers. The putting on of caps amused every one
_infiniment_, and we had more speeches and toasts. I forgot to tell you
that the French Major's home is broken up by Les Allemands, and he
doesn't know where his wife and three children are. On Xmas night,
during toasts, he suddenly got up and said in a broken voice, "A mes
petits enfants et ma femme."

The coach is mended and back from _l'atelier_, and we may go off at any
moment. I hope we shall wake up on the way to Boulogne and mails.

_New Year's Day, 1915, Rouen._--A Happy New Year to us all! We are not
off yet, and several other trains are doing nothing here. We came into
Rouen this afternoon, and heard that we are to clear the hospitals here
to-morrow, and take them down to Havre.

Thank goodness we are to move at last. Went for a walk in the town after
tea, and after dinner the O.C. and Sister B. and one of the Civil
Surgeons and the French