Page:Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar, a story of his life and work.djvu/163

122 and asked him whether he would be able to walk with him at the same rate. The man replied in the affirmative. They then proceeded on their way. For 9 or 10 miles, Madan Mandal followed Vidyasagar closely, but presently he fell back. He soon saw that his master, had outpassed him nearly 200 yards. Madan Mandal was a lathial (clubman). He gave himself and his lathi (club) several whirls in the air. He then ran forward as fast as his legs permitted, and was soon at his master's heels. Again they proceeded together. As soon as they reached an inn, 24 miles from Birsingha, Madan Mandal said to his master,—'Let us stay here for this day. We need not go to Calcutta to-day; at which Vidyasagar smiled, and replied,—"I must go to-day. You may put up here for this day, and go to Calcutta to-morrow. Here are some pice to pay your hotel-bill." With this, he left Madan Mandal to rest at the inn, and reached Calcutta by night-fall.

During his tenure of employment in the Fort William College he found opportunities of visiting Birsingha more frequently. When at home, his main business was to call on, and enquire after his neighbours, attend and nurse the diseased, help and succour the distressed, and divert himself by various athletic sports and amusements. One of his chief amusements at that time was to attend dinner-parties in company with his brothers and other relations. If, on such occasions, a ditch