We took over trenches again this evening--a day sooner than we
expected. It has rained most of the day. The Colonel and Boyd and
our Medical Officer and I, all rode over here from our rest billets
this afternoon. It rained and the roads are very muddy.
Headquarters are occupying the same cottage as we had last time--the
one that had its chimney carried away one day by a shell. But it
will be safer this time! I suppose we shall be in for Christmas Day,
but we are quite cheerful about it, and hope that the next Christmas
will be spent under different circumstances, where Peace and Goodwill
will be more in evidence than they are to-day. Peace will be more
lasting when it comes, because of all the strife that has gone before
it. I must send you Christmas messages by this letter, for the day
will have come and perhaps gone when it reaches you. They are just
the same old messages, but they go very deep down indeed.... And
after Christmas and New Year's Day are over, and a few more weeks are
past, I shall hope to come home again and actually _see_ you.