Of course I consented, and by evening we were busy installing sixteen patients in the railway servants' institute, near the station.

To look after the inmates were myself, four other ladies, and one partly professional nurse.

We arranged that the latter should attend every day, and the four ladies each take a day in turn, while I undertook to be there constantly to order eatables and superintend the housekeeping.

On the first evening, when beds, crockery, kitchen utensils, and food, all arrived in a medley from the universal provider, Wiel, great confusion reigned; and when it was at its height, just as the hospital waggon was driving up with the patients, "Creechy" sent off one of her projectiles, which burst with a deafening explosion about a hundred yards beyond the improvised hospital, having absolutely whizzed over the approaching ambulance vehicles.

The patients took it most calmly, and were in no way disconcerted.