However, at this time, the lure of England was very strong with my brother, and early December found him back in London.
LONDON, December 29th, 1897.
DEAR MOTHER:-- I had a most exciting Christmas, most of which I spent in Whitechapel in the London Hospital.

I lunched with the Spenders and then went down with them carrying large packages for distribution to the sick.

I expected to be terribly bored, but thought I would feel so virtuous that I would the better enjoy my dinner which I had promised to take with the McCarthys-- On the contrary, I had the most amusing time and much more fun than I had later.

The patients seemed only to be playing sick, and some of them were very humorous and others very pathetic and I played tin soldiers with some, and distributed rich gifts, other people had paid for, with a lavish hand.

I also sat on a little girl's cot and played dolls for an hour.