us what an
effect this kind of news, whether implied or clearly stated, had on the
Guardian's heart, and what an unfavourable reaction it produced. The
result was that for the second time his health failed, and then, at the
importunity of this evanescent soul and the urgent entreaties of the Holy
Household and the repeated appeals of those in close association with
him--he went away last summer.

This proved of the greatest benefit to him, and his health was completely
restored. And then, one following the next, there came in good reports
from Spiritual Assemblies everywhere, and other gatherings and groups, and
also individuals, and this brought him great joy; so much so that
following that summer's journey, out of his intense love for the
believers, he began to correspond even with individuals; and continually,
in the various meetings, he would express his satisfaction with and praise
of all the servants of the Blessed Beauty's Threshold and the loyal
friends of 'Abdu'l-Baha.

Alas, however, once again in some communities, he noted from certain
letters an absence of spirituality and good-fellowship among some of the
friends, and a lack of respect among some for their Assemblies. Once more,
as a result of this, his heart was filled with sorrow and once again he
decided on departure. This lowly maidservant and the other members of the
Household and all the Holy Leaves did all we could to blot away this grief
from his radiant spirit. When in his presence, we would bring up all the
good news that by the grace of God continued to pour in, and to speak of
the staunchness, the loyalty, the love, the sacrifices of the believers
both of East and West. We begged him to reconsider his decision--but to no
avail.

He told us: 'My heart is sensitive. Just as I feel the ill-feeling that
exists between individuals, and am injured by it, so too do I treasure the
excellent qualities of the believers; indeed, I hold these dearer than
words can tell. After that most dread ordeal, the one and only solace of
my heart was the loyalty, the staunchness, the love of the friends for the
Blessed Beauty and for 'Abdu'l-Baha. Nothing can ever detract from the
value of such excellent qualities, and I am deeply grateful to all the
friends, men and women alike, for this. And yet, this love of theirs, with
all its fervour, can never, by itself, bring the Ark of the Faith to the
longed-for shore. It can never prove the claims of the people of Baha to