INDIA AGAIN

the Calcutta Turf Club, which was all decorated and the
grounds illuminated—a wonderful sight.

The new Viceroy, Lord Hardinge, and Lady Hardinge
arrived on the 2ist of November, and we, with many others,
were there to meet them. Lady Hardinge had been a great
friend of mine so she greeted me warmly. In the evening a
state dinner was given at Government House, and Lord
Minto and Lord Hardinge made speeches. On the 22nd we
had a farewell lunch with Lord and Lady Minto. Partings
of this kind are always very sad, and I am certain that the
Mintos hated going. Everybody had liked them so much
and they had been very kind to us personally. After their
departure Douglas sent a telegram to them wishing them
all good luck and good-bye.

Douglas then began his strenuous journeys again, and
the first week-end after he had left, Lady Hardinge invited
me to stay at Barrackpur, where I had a delightful time.
Douglas returned to Calcutta in time for a quiet Christmas
with me, but after a few days left for some manoeuvres and
staff rides,

I have forgotten to mention that both in Calcutta and
Simla the ladies had been very keen on first aid and
nursing classes, in which we were greatly helped by the
Viceroy's doctor, Major Crook Lawless. I felt that if the
ladies were to be of any use in war-time they should have
some practice, and therefore arranged for them to be trained
at a small hospital at Simla. The matron taught them bed-
making, bandaging, and so on, and I insisted that they
should also go to the out-patients department to do actual
dressings under the hospital doctor's instructions* We were
rather unfortunate, however, on our first day. A man, who
had been bitten by a snake, was brought in, and his finger
was an appalling sight from having had a tourniquet on it.
Arrangements were made to have it amputated. I noted
down everything that happened, but my class gradually

83