lost sight of Baba. He had to send one back to find us. This happened more than once. He had to remind us of what we had promised, not to leave him.

That day was a scorcher and we suggested going to the Lido. Some asked to bathe, and Baba again reminded us that it was his last day and he wanted us near. On arrival at the Lido, the sight was too much. Some went off to bathe, leaving Baba alone for nearly an hour. When they returned to where they left him, he was gone with only Delia and Margaret who had obeyed. Chanji and I were to have joined him at the Lido after visiting the shipping offices of Lloyd Triestino at Baba's order. We, however, missed him and Baba was annoyed with us all. The two who had remained with him related a very sad return to the hotel. The rest of us not realizing that Baba had left the Lido and gone back to the hotel stayed on to drink lemonade, and we returned very slowly, arriving late for lunch.

On arrival we found a sad party; Delia and Margaret almost in tears. Baba looked miserable. He is a wonderful actor, and this time even the boys were taken in and thought Baba meant all he said. He said how the East were ready to sit at his feet, but that the West wanted Baba at their feet. He said how he wanted the West to work for him, but that now he would have to change his plans and not make use of us. And all had disobeyed but one or two. He referred to the shops and our lagging behind. Minta, at first, thought Baba was not serious and she could not help laughing while the rest of us were nearer shedding tears. None ate lunch that day; Baba said we could all do as we liked for the afternoon. He would spend the time with the boys, as he had much work to do. In these ways does Baba work us all up. You are unconscious of what he is doing at the time and, so, his little games always work. Of course, after lunch, he had forgiven us all and we spent a lovely afternoon together.

In my brother's diaries of this Italian period, a most interesting account of the Assisi trip is given as follows:

"These Italian days with Baba were very very happy times. Warm sun, a blue sea, a wonderful coast line, and behind the hotel — green hills and shaded walks through vineyards and forests. Pictures of walking in Galilee and of lakeside talks with Jesus came into our minds. In the morning we all trooped down to the rocks, bathed, dived, splashed, or basked in the sun, Baba in our midst. Though he used to swim much in India, he had special reasons for not swimming now. He would paddle in the water, and twice allowed us to row him in a sailing boat (and also in a motorboat) to San Foultardo*.

"Baba's room led out on to a private balcony. When we swam before breakfast, we would see his white-clad figure watching us from the balcony. Often at night time, we would sit there listening to music on the gramophone; Baba's favorites were Indian and Persian spiritual songs which he would explain to us, Spanish dances, and Paul Robeson's Negro spirituals. On the terrace we would act charades or get up entertainments. Under the name of Thomas, Baba would also take dancing lessons with Margaret, who was a skilled dancing instructor. Thus, and in innumerable ways, Baba entered into our lives as playmate, friend, child, and father. Actually, he worked hard while outwardly playing.

"Some nights we would watch his working on the inner planes. Be would ask us to play Laris, a card game, and Karam with him for awhile before he worked — a large board with pockets into which you try to flick counters like draughts. The apparent holiday was interspersed with sudden conflicts of temperament, of jealousies, of difficult moods that temporarily obscured the sun. Many lessons were quietly and unobtrusively taught. There were eleven to thirteen of us in the party; we looked forward to days of rest and pleasure.

"The second day, Baba said that he had a great spiritual work to perform. A special cave, connected if possible with Saint Francis, was to be

*There is no town named San Foultrdo. I think this should be San Fruttuoso. This is Herbert Davy's diary. On the previous page, Tod mentions the boat ride to San Fruttuoso in his diary. This might just be a typo-webmaster-JK