"We rode over and saw Fletcher yesterday and had tea with him. He is with about twenty other similar cases in a splendid château (this one is not ruined and has magnificent grounds). Unfortunately this is probably the very worst possible treatment he could have. He has nothing to do, no interest in anything, and no society except people who, like himself, want cheering. He does not read, he does not even walk about the grounds. He cannot sleep much, and he said he did not know exactly _what_ he did. Under these conditions I know it will not be long before he is sent home. Brooding is just the very worst thing for him. He sees all the past horrors all over again; things which, at the time, he shut his mind to. The best treatment (even better than home, _I_ think) would be to send him back for a month or so to Crosby. He would then have plenty to occupy his mind and would have cheerful companions...." "_6.20 p.m._ "I have attached a list of a few slang terms and curious expressions in use in this Regiment and I believe universal at the moment. Some of these are amazing, and it is difficult to trace the origin. 'Drumming up' is one, and 'wind up' another. I saw an old Belgian cart yesterday, a three-wheeled affair. It had been overturned on its side and the spokes of the lowest wheel had been broken. Well, some one had 'drummed up' on them--every one had disappeared. These men here will 'drum up' on anything. 'Drumming up' on a thing does not mean lighting a fire _on_ it but _with_ it. "When we were at that place where we were for a week, there was a most peculiar state of affairs. The Germans were holding a small piece of trench joining, and in line with, ours. They were only separated from us by double barricades--their and ours. They corresponded to the meat in a sandwich. [A sketch is omitted.] When I say 'ours' I mean the English. I was not actually in this trench, but in the one just behind. The trench on one side of the 'meat' was held by one of our Companies, and the other by another Regiment...." "_Friday, 10.20 a.m._ "My nickname in the Mess is 'Maurice' (with a French pronunciation); I am called after the small boy in the grocery shop here. The good dame always says 'Oui, monsieur le lieutenant!' 'Non, monsieur le lieutenant!' to everything one says; she gets in about six to the minute. Well, we used to imitate her after our visits to the shop, and one day she called out 'Maurice'; so Fletcher calls me 'Maurice,' and I reply, 'Oui, monsieur le lieutenant.'" SOME MILITARY TERMS WATER-PARTY A fatigue party carrying water. TO HAVE WIND UP (to rhyme with 'pinned up')--To be uneasy, 'on edge.' DRUMMING UP Making a fire for the purpose of warming food. BLIGHTY England. A BLIGHTY WOUND A wound that necessitates invaliding home. PUCCA Real, genuine. RALLY UP A short period of considerable firing in the trenches.