24 IN THE VISION OF GOD
property, and since you are He you have a right to it. You
may freely ask and take."
Meantime, Ramdas had covered himself with the other
spare cloth.
"I need also the cloth you have just put on," and he
stretched forth his hand. Without a word Ramdas surren-
dered up the second cloth.
Some minutes passed and he said: "I have need for a
water pot. If you have no objection, you may give the one
over there,"—pointing to the vessel in the corner of the
room. Emptying the pot of its water, Ramdas passed it
on to him. As desired by him, Ramdas made up the things
into a bundle. Then he called for the mat, the deerskin, the
lantern, the umbrella, the spare langot, one after the other,
at almost regular intervals.
Ramdas felt that God was out to test him if he had any
sense of possession still left. His dedicated life did not
admit of auy attachment to things of the world. Whenever
he gave away the things to this strange friend, he did so
in a spirit of delightful spontaneity. With a rising
emotion he addressed the visitor: "O Lord, Thy tests are
wonderful. Everything is Thine and Thine alone." At this,
the visitor broke out into his usual offhand laughter. He
demanded also a few religious books which were'in the
room. All articles were tied up in a cloth and formed a
pretty big bundle.
Later he said with a note of warning in his voice:
*"Lookhere, you have given me many valuable articles.
It is possible, when I am gone with them, you might regret
your folly. What say you?"
"No, not at all," quickly responded Ramdas; "since you
are taking away your own things, Ranaclas has no cause for
regret."
"Now, then," he "broke out, "give me that board on the
wall." It also went to swell the bundle.
The room was now almost empty. Being monsoon