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“The French are a sympathetic, gracious people. The only occupant of this house where I was billeted was an old lady. Her 3 sons had gone to the war. One had been killed, another wounded, & the 3rd was in the trenches. There is no doubt that the lady was much attached to her sons. There is miles of difference between the women of India & the women of this country. During the whole 3 months I never once saw this old lady sitting idle, altho she belonged to a high family. Indeed during the whole 3 months she ministered to me to such an extent that I cannot describe her kindness. Of her own free will she washed my clothes; arranged my bed & polished my boots for 3 months. She washed my bedroom daily with warm water. Every morning she used to prepare and give me a tray with bread, milk, butter and coffee. I was continually wishing to find a way to reimburse her the expense. But however much I pressed her she declined. When we had to leave the village, the old lady wept on my shoulder. Strange that I had never seen her weeping for her dead son & yet she should weep for me. Moreover at parting, she pressed on me a five-franc note to meet my expenses en route.”