on, he asked for the fur coat he had taken off to be placed over him. That day he was rather feverish. In the evening his temperature rose still higher, but during the night the fever left him. After midnight he asked for some tea.
On Sunday morning (November 27th) he said:— “I am quite well and will get up as usual and have tea with you in the tea room.” After he had dressed he was persuaded to remain on the sofa in his room.
In the afternoon he sent all the friends to the tomb of the Báb, whereon the occasion of the anniversary of the declaration of the Covenant a feast was being held, offered by a Pársí pilgrim who had lately arrived from India.
At four in the afternoon being on the sofa in his room He said :— “Ask my sister and all the family to come and have tea with me.”
His four sons-in-law and Rúhí Effendi came to him after returning from the gathering on the mountain. They said to Him:— “The giver of the feast was unhappy because you were not there.” He said unto them:—
“But I was there, though my body was absent, my spirit was there in your midst. I was present with the friends at the tomb. The friends must not attach any importance to the absence of my body. In spirit I am, and shall always be, with the friends, even though I be far away.”
The same evening He asked after the health of every member of the household, of the pilgrims and of the friends in Haifa. “Very good, very good” He said when told that none were ill. This was His very last utterance concerning His friends.
At eight in the evening He retired to bed after taking a little nourishment,saying:—“I am quite well.”
He told all the family to go to bed and rest. Two of His daughters however stayed with Him. That night the Master had gone to sleep very calmly, quite free from fever. He awoke about 1.15 a. m., got up and walked across to a table where he drank some water. He took off an outer night garment, saying :—“I am too warm.” He went back to bed and when his daughter Rúhá Khánum, later on, approached, she found Him lying peacefully and, as He looked into her face, He asked her to lift up the net curtains, saying:—
“I have difficulty in breathing, give me more air.” Some rose water was brought of which He drank, sitting up in bed to do so, without any help. He again lay down, and as some food was offered Him, He remarked in a clear and distinct voice:
“You wish me to take some food, and I am going?” He gave them a beautiful look. His face was so calm, His expression so serene, they thought Him asleep.
He had gone from the gaze of His loved ones!
The eyes that had always looked out with loving-kindness upon humanity, whether friends or foes, were now closed. The hands that had ever been stretched forth to give alms to the poor and the needy, the halt and the maimed, the blind, the orphan and the widow, had now finished their labor. The feet that, with untiring zeal, had gone upon the ceaseless errands of the Lord of compassion were now at rest. The lips that had so eloquently championed the cause of the suffering sons of men, were now hushed in silence. The heart that had so powerfully throbbed with wondrous love for the children of God was now stilled. His glorious spirit had passed from the life of earth, from the persecutions of the enemies of righteousness, from the storm and stress of well nigh