Page:Between the twilights being studies of Indian women by one of themselves (IA betweentwilights00soraiala).pdf/92

72 than she had been any day the year and more, but she knew, apparently. Then, one morning, she said quite calmly to her disciples, after the ceremonial bath and pooja, “This is the last time I shall worship in this house” (her body); “now, waste no time in regret, let us talk the things we should be sorry to have left unsaid.” … And all that day the faithful gathered about her, and she expounded the scriptures with an insight unequalled even by herself. She ate nothing—“Why prop up the house that is tumbling?”

At night she asked to be taken down to the Sacred River—a Hindu dies with her feet in the water; and there she sat among her friends on the stone steps of the Ghat, claiming no support, no physical comfort, now silent, now setting afloat some beautiful thought in words that will always live for those who loved her … and then just in the gray mystery of the dawn hour, “It is right,” she said, and fell back. … They put her into a boat and took her across to the Ghat of the Soul’s departure, and here they slipped her gently into the Stream … for that is all the burial service for one who is holy.