c　up　the　old　narrow　road。　The　dressing　station　was　on　the　Austrian　side　of　the　river　under　the　edge　of　the　hill　and　stretcher…bearers　would　bring　the　wounded　back　across　the　pontoon　bridge。　It　would　be　the　same　when　the　offensive　started。　As　far　as　I　could　make　out　the　last　mile　or　so　of　the　new　road　where　it　started　to　level　out　would　be　able　to　be　shelled　steadily　by　the　Austrians。　It　looked　as　though　it　might　be　a　mess。　But　I　found　a　place　where　the　cars　would　be　sheltered　after　they　passed　that　last　badlooking　bit　and　could　wait　for　the　wounded　to　be　brought　across　the　pontoon　bridge。　I　would　have　liked　to　drive　over　the　new　road　but　it　was　not　yet　finished。　It　looked　wide　and　well　made　with　a　good　grade　and　the　turns　looked　very　impressive　where　you　could　see　them　through　openings　in　the　forest　on　the　mountain　side。　The　cars　would　be　all　right　with　their　good　metal…to…metal　brakes　and　anyway；　ing　down；　they　would　not　be　loaded。　I　drove　back　up　the　narrow　road。

Two　carabinieri　held　the　car　up。　A　shell　had　fallen　and　while　we　waited　three　others　fell　up　the　road。　They　were　seventy…sevens　and　came　with　a　whishing　rush　of　air；　a　hard　bright　burst　and　flash　and　then　gray　smoke　that　blew　across　the　road。　The　carabinieri　waved　us　to　go　on。　Passing　where　the　shells　had　landed　I　avoided　the　small　broken　places　and　smelled　the　high　explosive　and　the　smell　of　blasted　clay　and　stone　and　freshly　shattered　flint。　I　drove　back　to　Gorizia　and　our　villa　and；　as　I　said；　went　to　call　on　Miss　Barkley；　who　was　on　duty。

At　dinner　I　ate　very　quickly　and　left　for　the　villa　where　the　British　had　their　hospital。　It　was　really　very　large　and　beautiful　and　there　were　fine　trees　in　the　grounds。　Miss　Barkley　was　sitting　on　a　bench　in　the　garden。　Miss　Ferguson　was　with　her。　They　se