Those who have been carsick during the journey rush to get the few available beds. The rest select their corners on the floor as best they may. Poor Valu, with her badly burned legs, has to be carried in. Shortly before starting on the trip, her sari caught fire. According to the doctor, she should have been left in Meherabad to follow later. But "No," said Baba, "all must start together." Maya must not interfere with his work.

Supper time. Baba returns from his mast work. Alas! The lentils cooked before we started have gone sour in the heat. "Never mind," says Baba. "We will have tea, milk and bread." "Sorry," says the housekeeper, "there is no milk, unless one drives seven miles to the village and it's too late now." Baba sends for one of us in charge of the food: "Any other food with us?" "Yes, Baba, a little cheese and lettuce." And we are a party of over twenty! What does he do? Takes it himself to the drivers of the bus, Elizabeth, Eruch and Baba, and the rest have bread and tea, minus milk. Then R., who is hot and tired from unpacking, says to her neighbor: "I have worked just as hard as the drivers and been up since three this morning. Am I not to have any cheese?"

Baba, who misses nothing, asks what we are talking about. He brings the crisis up and spells out on his board for Mani to read:

"Very seriously, if you cannot love each other through love for me and after living with me, then at least control by practical means. Every moment you feel you are getting excited or angry, remember and control. Pinch yourself, go aside, dance, skip. Remember me and you will at once turn it into laughter. Give up wanting."

We did indeed learn much on these tours with Baba. In the many crises which Baba brought up, one is reminded of the definition of the Chinese word for crisis, which has two characters: the first character meaning danger, but the second, opportunity. If one can forget one's failure and see in one's situation, however unhappy it may be on the surface, the values and great opportunity it may contain, then Baba is pleased. Here for us was the opening of a new chapter in the book of Baba's way of life of right action and right thinking.

I do not think Baba minded if we were not so "easy," for on one occasion, speaking of someone whose visit was delayed, I recall his words, "I am quite sorry that_______ cannot come sooner as she is a great help to us all