on until it reached a kind of yard leading to some institute.  The people followed.  They all halted inside here.  Then the priest prepared to make a little speech and pronounce another Benediction; but he would not proceed until all the little choir boys were perfectly quiet.  He waited about five minutes.  Then he preached a brief sermon (of course in French) directed to the children.  I could not understand much of what he was talking about; but I think he was very eloquent.  I could deduce from words here and there that he was reminding them that their fathers and brothers and uncles were fighting at the front, and telling them that if they were not good little boys and girls their fathers and brothers and uncles would fall in battle!  Then he pronounced his final Benediction, and we scattered—­5.20.

“I could see that everybody was discussing the service and the sermon.  I overheard a Frenchman in frock coat and top hat, who seemed to be a churchwarden or something of the kind, expressing his appreciation of the latter.

“Then I came back to camp and paraded for a box-respirator!  We then went through ‘tear gas.’  Then dinner.  I sat at the Commandant’s table.  He was talking about a great concentration up North—­guns and supplies and men swarming there recently....

“After dinner I went to bed.  Thus ended Whitsun Day, 1917.

“I got up at 7.15 this morning.  Breakfast.  Then down to the ‘bull ring’ in full marching order.  Gas all day.  Fortunately we were under nice shady trees most of the time.  We had sandwiches down there between 12 and 1, and got back at 4.30, feeling very hot after the march.  Then tea....

“Hamer, Bridgestock, and Allin have gone up the line this morning.  I am posted to the 2/5th Lancashire Fusiliers (the battalion Norman Kemp was in!).  I shall not be going up the line for a few days, but by the time your reply to this reaches me I shall be there....”

My diary of that same day, May 28, records:  “To Paris Plage in the evening.”  And my letter written home the following day proceeds as follows: 

“After writing home yesterday I walked down town, and took a car to the seaside place opposite.  The country through which the car went was pretty, and the seaside place quite passable; all right in peace-time I should think.  Unfortunately the last car back leaves at 8.15, so I came by it....

“To-day, Royal Oak Day, we have spent on the ‘bull ring’ again....

“I have seen David Morgan (who was in the same billet with me when we were privates together in the 29th Royal Fusiliers at Oxford, in January, 1916) this evening.  I managed to find the C.R.E. offices where he works.  He saw me, and came out to me.  I went inside.  He is very cosy there, in a nice new hut.  He was working at a drawing.  His hours daily are from 9 in the morning until 8 in the evening; but, as I had come, he managed to get a pass to go down town with me this evening.  We therefore had a walk.  He looks very well with his stripe, and he seems to be having a good time.  He desires to be remembered to you both.  I left him at about 8.  Then I had dinner at the Officers’ Club, but was not struck by it....