East Challacombe the next morning.

As he left the room, he paused at the doorway and turning slightly, saw Margaret and me behind him. On his board he spelled out very slowly, "Are you happy?" We said “Yes." "Don 't worry," he repeated two or three times. "I will help you." We saw no more of Baba till the following morning.

My brother persuaded Margaret Craske to stay overnight and not lose the privilege of sleeping so nearby to Baba. About six of us packed into the large spare room. I slept on the floor. Margaret tells me that in the middle of the night I jumped up from the floor and going to her bed, shook her. She woke with a start. "What is the matter? Anything wrong? Why are you weeping?" I replied, "He is so wonderful — so lovely!"

Next morning we were up at the crack of dawn — but not early enough for Baba. Baba wanted a hot bath. We had not thought of this overnight — nor even inquired just what was required. Now to get hot water at dawn, up three flights of pipes, meant that one had to keep the fire in the kitchen stove on all night. (No central heating in those early Victorian houses!)

All we were able to do at that late hour — but in reality unusual early hour—was to carry upstairs many kettles of lukewarm water and pour them into a huge porcelain tub. This method was unhygienic by Indian standards. There, the more usual way in the less sophisticated parts of India was to use two pails of clear hot water. With a small vessel, you threw the water over your body — thus never actually immersing yourself in cloudy water.

At 5:30 A.M. Baba appeared in the dining room. Breakfast was ready — a rather silent, strained meal. My brother was not at the table and Baba asked repeatedly where he was. Upstairs packing, he did not take things the easy way and was always worried whether they got off in time.

Hot tea helped all. We probably forgot the hot milk and I'm sure Baba did not allow the boys to ask for it. Breakfast consisted of a nut roll left over from the night before, bread, butter and marmalade. My parents were still asleep. Zilla, my niece of 14, had not been permitted to see Baba the night before. I think that Meredith had persuaded my brother she was too young. However, she herself asked to meet Baba before he left for East Challacombe. Baba, when told, replied that he would see her for a few moments before he left. Baba, Meredith and Herbert went up to Zilla's room after breakfast. She stared. No word was said then. Outside the door Baba said "I see all her past and all her future!