Angels and Women (1924)

i
64 ANGELS AND WOMEN
restless, but spoke not, and upon myself filial
awe imposed reluctant silence. An impassable
barrier seemed to have arisen between
us; confidence was at an end.
From this time on various afflictions assailed
us. Many of our cattle died; trees
were set on fire; the date-bearing palms were
thrown down; the river rose and flooded the
warden; destruction raged over the Hermitage.
Our food and garments became mildewed;
we drew near the gates of death. I
could not but connect these misfortunes with
the power of the Devas, who I knew were
malignant, as they were grand and beautiful.
One memorable evening, after a day of
gloom and disaster, a sudden light pervaded
the scene---a peculiar brilliance which I but
too well understood. Like the scintillation
of stars, Satanas and Hesperus appeared before
us; their voices were sweet and their
words gentle. Following" them was a troop
of strange looking beings, men of low fore-