The Colonials were even more surprised to see girls driving in France than our own men had been.

One man, a dear old Australian, was being invalided out altogether and going home to his wife.  He told me how during the time he had been away she had become totally blind owing to some special German stuff, that had been formerly injected to keep her sight, being now unprocurable.  “Guess she’s done her bit,” he ended; “and I’m off home to take care of her.  She’ll be interested to hear how the lassies work over here,” and we parted with a handshake.

Important conferences were always taking place at the Hotel Maritime, and one day as I was down on the quay the French Premier and several other notabilities arrived.  “There’s Mr. Asquith,” said an R.T.O. to me.  “That!” said I, in an unintentionally loud voice, eyeing his long hair, “I thought he was a ’cellist belonging to a Lena Ashwell Concert party!” He looked round, and I faded into space.

Taking some patients to hospital that afternoon we passed some Australians marching along.  “Fine chaps,” said the one sitting on the box to me, “they’re a good emetic of their country, aren’t they?” (N.B.  I fancy he meant to say emblem.)

Our concert party still flourished, though the conditions for practising were more difficult than ever.  Our Mess tent had been moved again on to a plot of grass behind the cook-house to leave more space for the cars to be parked, and though we had a piano there it was somehow not particularly inspiring, nor had we the time to practise.  The Guards’ Brigade were down resting at Beau Marais, and we were asked to give them a show.  We now called ourselves the “FANTASTIKS,” and wore a black pierrette kit with yellow bobbles.  The rehearsals were mostly conducted in the back of the ambulance on the way there, and the rest of the time was spent feverishly muttering one’s lines to oneself and imploring other people not to muddle one.  The show was held in a draughty tent, and when it was over the Padre made a short prayer and they all sang a hymn. (Life is one continual paradox out in France.) I shall never forget the way those Guardsmen sang either.  It was perfectly splendid.  There they stood, rows of men, the best physique England could produce, and how they sang!

Betty drove us back to camp in the “Crystal Palace,” so-called from its many windows—­a six cylinder Delauney-Belville car used to take the army sisters to and from their billets.  We narrowly missed nose-diving into a chalk pit on the way, the so-called road being nothing but a rutty track.