Page:Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar, a story of his life and work.djvu/168

Rh of sleep that night. The next morning, he resolved that he would renew his application for leave, and that if the leave should be again refused, he would resign his appointment. Go home he must, at all risks. Accordingly, he called again on Mr. Marshall, and renewed his application. With great emphasis he said;—'Sir, if you do not grant me leave to go home, I resign my post. Please, accept my resignation. For the sake of my service, I can not suffer my mother to shed tears.' Mr. Marshall was wonder-struck at the uncommon feelings of filial devotion. Vidyasagar felt for his mother. He could not utter a single word of protest, but very gladly granted the leave. Vidyasagar at once repaired to his lodgings; and accompanied with his faithful servant, Sriram, started for Birsingha at 3 in the afternoon.

This was in the month of July,—the rainy season of tropical Bengal. The sky was overcast, clouds thundering dreadfully with flashes of lightning every now and then, winds roaring incessantly, rains pouring in incessant torrents. The roads were all slippery and muddy. Quite regardless of these, Vidyasagar moved on as fast as his legs permitted, and he was not a slow walker, as the reader is already aware. At night-fall he reached Krishnarampur, and it being too dark to find his way, he was, at his servant's request, compelled to stay there for the night in an inn. He had still to journey 26 miles, before he could reach his home.