and walked to a bare slope where Baba began to run like a nimble goat up the rocky hill. At the top we halted, but could not see the spring. Yet Baba was positive this was the place. We had to return quickly to Florence, so he told me to find rooms and to arrange to return there in two-week's time and to explore until I found the spring. (The top of the hill had been quarried away and no spring could be found; and after a long search and much trespassing, I found in a private estate, and behind a high wall, a spring.)

"We motored back to Florence. In the cave, Baba had explained that two of his followers were curiously linked; for a time they would be spiritually, to put it curtly, like Siamese twins. While we were in Florence, the one felt as if a ring was encircling his hair and continually tried to brush it away or to take off his cap, though he was bareheaded. But he felt extraordinarily happy and uplifted. The other felt tired, depressed, and ill. This seesaw between the followers still persists; one is up, and the other is down, alternately.

"At 10:30 A.M. we squeezed ourselves into the car, and stopped and had lunch in a forest by the roadside near Viareggio. We passed through Pisa, Spezia, Rapallo, through magnificent scenery to St. Margherita; but we were so cramped and so tired and in such a hurry to rejoin the others that we hardly appreciated the drive. At 7:30, we reached the hill where Kimco were waiting to hear the news and to welcome Baba's return.

"We were now to enjoy sea bathing, excursions, charades, and impromptu entertainments on the terrace of the hotel. From time to time, pleasure would be interrupted by some displeasure. Disobedience and difficulties of temperament would suddenly pass like clouds across the sunny sky. Looking back, one sees how Baba was trying to teach us ever so gently, more by silence than by open reprimand, the innumerable lessons we all had to learn.

"Night after night we would yawn at the very mediocre local cinema, always in Italian and hence rather unintelligible. So often we wanted to stay at home but had to go.

"Many times we went to an open-air cafe in a little bay; a beautiful spot which seemed to appeal particularly to Baba. Onlookers, watching this queer collection of Westerners and Easterners gaily talking and laughing, sipping coffee and ices, were so puzzled. Was it a theatrical company or an Indian Maharajah's party? Idleness, luxury, feasting and self-indulgence some would say. Yet in this place, despite its beauty, we always felt strange sadness, uneasiness, and familiarity. Baba said it was due to very strong past connections. We had been there before.

"It was a strange experience for one who was something of a Puritan and who was accustomed to view the idle rich, lounging by the Lido for the bystander's camera, with a disapproving eye. There was more self-denial and non-attachment being taught than would appear on the surface.

"One day Baba wished to walk to a distant beach for bathing. The large party got strung out along the road. Baba did not like this and called us back. He suddenly stopped and indicated that he wished to get down on to the seashore. 'Y'* looked over the embankment wall and saw that it was a private beach —the owner had left cushions and a flask of wine in his beach tent and would obviously return in a moment. He protested to Kitty that Baba could not risk the indignity and trespass with our motley crew on someone's private terrain. Kitty insisted that Baba's slightest whim must be obeyed, and so they descended the steps. 'Y' was furiously indignant with Kitty and the stupidity of it all, and went to sit down much further along the beach. He refused all entreaties and even Baba's commands to return. His feelings were churned up and he felt desperate. After some time, he gave in and came back very sheepishly to the tent. Baba severely reprimanded him in the presence of the others. During his absence, he had failed to meet an old Italian who had stood, gazed respectfully at Baba, bowed and took off his hat three times to him. This man was

*"Y" is Herbert Davy-Kitty's brother - Love Alone Prevails page 80