1 3rd London General Dec. 6th 1915 Dear Ruth, Here I am, unfortunately on night duty again. I went to get
my day off which I had arranged to spend with Dorothy and
was told I was to go on night. So at two o'clock I went off
to bed, and was on duty again at 7.30 in an enteric
ward which I hate. Not only this but I have had to change
my billetts and go into a house where the nurses are on
night. I have been spoilt so far with a single room and
now have to share one instead; fortunately my stable com-
panion seems a nice girl, her brother, Capt: Josse is the
registrar at the hospital, but I am disgusted at the
whole thing, and liked my old ward so much. I suppose
shall spend Xmas day in bed this year for a change. I went up to town for an hour this morning to meet
Dorothy who was spending the night at the Grosvenor. She
was looking very well, but think very doubtful about
the engagement. I don't know what she intends doing,
apparently nothing at present. She went down to
Eastbourne to-day to see O. and talks of going on to
Cirencester. Mrs Lecky was taking me to the
theatre next week, but of course I can't go now. There is an intake to-night and motors are driving up to
the door all the time. As my ward is full, I shan't be 2 disturbed. All these men seem to be Australians or New
Zealanders from the Dardanelles, and most of them are convales-
cent, only one on on 3 hourly feeds, but they all have to have
temperatures, respirations and pulses taken in the mornings, and
then I go across to the next-door ward and help there too, as
some of the cases there are bad. One of the patients
seems to be quite mad and kept everybody awake all
night singing songs, and this morning refused to be
washed, so a man orderely had to be sent for. We have been told to take all the red covers off the lamps
and wrap them in brown paper instead, so I suppose
zeppelins are expected to-night. I wonder how you are getting on in your hotel. Will
you be full up next term. It must be a pretty big
job. I think a good many of the V.A.D's here are going to
sign on again. I would like to go home in between,
but that seems impossible, and the matron won't take any-
body back here again who does. I suppose everybody
would rush off if she did. One nice is surprise is,
that we are now to get at least £2 a week month allowance
money as well as our £20. a year. What is happening
about Xmas presents this year. Are we giving to each other or
not this year. Please let me know. I have no news, and only hope I won't be on
night work long. Best love from Celia.