* * * * *
Went over to the Couvent de Saint Pierre, where Miss Ashley-Smith is
with her British wounded. I had to warn her that the Germans may come in
to-night. I had told the Commandant about her yesterday, and arranged
with him that we should take her and her British away in our Ambulance
if we have to go. I had to find out how many there would be to take.
The Convent is a little way beyond the _Place_ on the boulevard. I knew
it by the Red Cross hanging from the upper windows. Everything is as
happy and peaceful here as if Ghent were not on the eve of an invasion.
The nuns took me to Miss Ashley-Smith in her ward. I hardly knew her,
for she had changed the uniform of the British Field Hospital[30] for
the white linen of the Belgian Red Cross. I found her in charge of the
ward. Absolutely unperturbed by the news, she went on superintending
the disposal of a table of surgical instruments. She would not consent
to come with us at first. But the nuns persuaded her that she would do
no good by remaining.
I am to come again and tell her what time to be ready with her wounded,
when we know whether we are going and when.
Came back to the "Flandria" and finished entries in my Day-Book.
[_Evening._]
The Commandant has come back from Melle; but he is going there again
almost directly. He has been to the British lines, and heard for certain
that the Germans will be in Ghent before morning. We have orders to
clear out before two in the morning. I am to have all his things packed
by midnight.
The British Consul has left Ghent.