Gentola—I have instructed Vena to remain in the house, to allow no one to enter it, and to leave me undisturbed until five o'clock, which will be seven hours hence.
De L'Ester—We have heard your conversation with the girl, who is in a state of nervous alarm lest some evil may befall you. Ask her to lower the window shade in the adjoining room. Some rays of light are penetrating the desired darkness of this one, and it may be well to further reassure her, so that she may not feel impelled to disturb you. That is well, and all things being arranged to our satisfaction we at once will depart. Close your eyes and render yourself passive. You are not afraid?
Gentola—Not afraid, but a little nervous. As I ever have found you true to your word, I will trust you to the end.
De L'Ester—That you safely may do, for aside from all other considerations we greatly desire that you shall yet a while remain on the Earth plane, that with your approval we may make further use of your peculiar phase of Mediumship. We have not labored all these years to fit you for a definite purpose to now willfully permit injury of our Instrument. You may believe, too, that in our demands upon your time and strength for the furtherance of our Mission, we are not actuated by selfish motives, and in time you will understand that if you have suffered and practiced much self-denial, we, too, have sacrificed much that we might aid in the accomplishment of what you and we regard as a sacred duty. Now you are tranquil and we are ready for our flight to Ento.
You now may unclose your eyes for we are nearing Da̤o, and you may perceive its many stately structures, whose domes and towers are in relief against a background of cloudless azure sky. We now will approach the Palace, which you will observe is enveloped in a shining, mistlike aural cloud, within which a host of exalted Spirits are aiding in the Spiritual unfoldment of Omanos Fûnha̤ and others who, ere long, will proclaim to the peoples of Ento the glorious truth that the Spirit, the real Self, survives the change called death. When presently we shall enter within the aural cloud you will clearly see what you never—But I must not anticipate, and you will strive to regain your usual tranquillity.
One seldom sees a more artistic structure than this massive, stately, harmoniously designed residence of the Supreme Rulers of Ento, its lovely surroundings affording an admirable setting for such a gem of architecture. Indeed the entire city is an architectural dream. It strictly is a residence city, though of necessity in it are bazaars and marts containing all that is finest and best pertaining to art, manufactured wares and natural products. No, it is not an extensive city, the population not exceeding a half million, but it is the richest city of Ento, and one of the oldest.
Now you are quieted and we will join our Band within the aural cloud.
Gentola—De L'Ester, friends, wait a moment; I believe I am frightened. Oh, who are those wonderfully beautiful Beings? Are they Angels or are they Spirits? Oh, I am overwhelmed by the amazing spectacle.
De L'Ester—Tranquillize yourself, I pray you, tranquillize yourself; none but loving friends are here. Those radiant Beings are exalted Spirits from many Spirit Worlds, and conditions are such that for the first time during our Mission you see Spirits as they really are. You are aware that the physical body is composed of grosser elements of substance, and the Spirit body of elements more refined, the elemental quality of the Spirit body depending upon the manner of existence of the mortal, so you readily may conclude that those Spirits are of an exalted plane, else they would not present such a glorified appearance, neither would they be able to serve the purpose for which they have assembled. Adonēon, the leader of a Band, desires to address you.
Adoneon—Trembling one from the Earth-world, the Sorrowful Star, upon which I, too, once dwelt, I pray you to accept our gentlest, our most loving greeting. Once we all existed in mortal forms, but having been freed from physical expression we present to your unaccustomed gaze an appearance which startles and occasions you some trepidation. Will it calm your disquietude if I say that could you see yourself as we see you, you would be as greatly amazed at your real appearance as you are at our own. Then be at peace, for as we are, you some time will be, and then, as now, gladly you will serve the lowliest of the human Brotherhood. Gentola̤, you are rightly named, for only one of kindliest nature would risk the severance of the ties of your present Embodiment, that thus you may aid this Mission of Loving endeavor. You desire to learn somewhat of my earthly history. As you will, but it must be as the merest fragment of the whole.