dark; they were crammed into their respective Legations as quickly as
possible; they have done a little patrol and picquet work on the
streets, and have stood expectantly behind barricades which they were
told to erect; but otherwise they are as completely at sea again as if
they were back to their ships.... In all the clouds of dust and smoke
around them, how can they understand? It is true I have rather a
grudge against some persons of the Legation defenders as yet unknown,
and think of them perhaps a little angrily, for, like all soldiery,
they loot. They have already taken my field-glasses, an excellent
revolver, and several other things during the confusion of the nights.
Of course this is the fortune of war, as all old campaigners will tell
you, but a more decent interval should have been allowed to elapse
before beginning the inevitable stripping process....

As for the detachment officers, some of them are very good fellows and
some of them are not; but already they have each of them instinctively
adopted the old attitude of the Legations towards one another. They
are mutually suspicious. The detachment officers are also considerably
tired and in very bad tempers, for the night has been turned into day
with a regularity which cannot leave anybody very happy. Then dirt is
accumulating, too, sad truth; and in the East you cannot feel dirty in
the summer and be happy. That is quite impossible....

Thus we are all in a very grunting frame of mind. The British Legation
appears to be at length hopelessly crowded with perspiring
missionaries of all denominations and creeds, who have suddenly come
in from beyond the barricades. Life must be quite impossible there.
The novelty of this experience has been worn off, and I for one would
welcome any change, either for better or worse. So long as it is only
a change....