Stumm must have had some colossal graft, for the train was crowded.
I had another three hours of complete boredom.

I dared not smoke, and could do nothing but stare out of the window.

We soon got into hilly country, where a good deal of snow was lying.

It was the 23rd day of December, and even in war time one had a sort of feel of Christmas.
You could see girls carrying evergreens, and when we stopped at a station the soldiers on leave had all the air of holiday making.

The middle of Germany was a cheerier place than Berlin or the western parts.