I asked him to stay to tea and amuse himself till I had finished my letters.

While I was writing I heard the ripping sound of an approaching shell, quickly followed by a tremendous crash.

Some building quite close by had evidently been struck.

I put on my cap and went out, when the landlady followed me and said, "I hope you are not going into the town." "I am just going to see where the shell has struck", I replied, "and will come back immediately." I never saw her again.

As I went up the street I saw the shell had hit a large building which had been used as a hospital.