a youthful imp
descended from above with agility, and, making a profound reverence,
presented himself before the disputants.

"Venerable demons," interposed he, "might my insignificance venture to
suggest that we cannot well testify too much honour for our visitor Ananda,
seeing that he is the only apostle of Buddha with whose company we are
likely ever to be indulged? Wherefore I would propose that neither
Kammuragha nor Damburanana be assigned for his residence, but that the
amenities of all the two hundred and forty-four thousand hells be combined
in a new one, constructed especially for his reception."

The imp having thus spoken, the senior demons were amazed at his precocity,
and performed a _pradakshina_, exclaiming, "Truly thou art a highly
superior young devil!" They then departed to prepare the new infernal
chamber, agreeably to his recipe.

Ananda awoke, shuddering with terror.

"Why," he exclaimed, "why was I ever an apostle? O Buddha! Buddha! how hard
are the paths of saintliness! How prone to error are the well-meaning! How
huge is the absurdity of spiritual pride!"

"Thou hast discovered that, my son?" said a gentle voice in his vicinity.

He turned and beheld the divine Buddha, radiant with a mild and benignant
light. A cloud seemed rolled away from his vision, and he recognised in his
master the Glendoveer, the Jogi, and the Physician.

"O holy teacher!" exclaimed he in extreme perturbation, "whither shall I
turn? My sin forbids me to approach thee."

"Not on account of thy sin art thou forbidden, my son," returned Buddha,
"but on account of the ridiculous and unsavoury plight to which thy knavery
and disobedience have reduced thee. I have now appeared to remind thee that
this day all my apostles meet on Mount Vindhya to render an account of
their mission, and to inquire whether I am to deliver thine in thy stead,
or whether thou art minded to proclaim it thyself."

"I will render it with my own lips," resolutely exclaimed Ananda. "It is
meet that I should bear the humiliation of acknowledging my folly."

"Thou hast said well, my son," replied Buddha, "and in return I will permit
thee to discard the attire, if such it may be termed, of a Jogi, and to
appear in our assembly wearing the yellow robe as beseems my disciple. Nay,
I will even infringe my own rule on thy behalf, and perform a not
inconsiderable miracle by immediately transporting thee to the summit of
Vindhya, where the faithful ar