Page:Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar, a story of his life and work.djvu/517

472 departure to Benares. He fetched his parents to Calcutta, and determined on having their portraits painted by Hudson. Vidyasagar devised a means of inducing his mother to sit before a European, and the following dialogue passed between the parent and her son:—

Son.—'Mother, a very good portrait-painter has been engaged in the Paikpara Raj house; I wish to have your likeness painted by him.'

Mother.—'O! no, what shall I do with my portrait? Shame! Fie!'

Son.—'The portrait is not for you, mother. It is for me. If I have a likeness of yours with me, I can have a look at it, whenever my thoughts run after you.'

The mother had nothing to say against it, and she said, though reluctantly:—

'Then do as you like.'

Son.—'Shall I bring the European here, or you will go there with me?'

Mother.—'The painter, a European! No, my dear child, I can not sit before a European to have my likeness drawn.'

Son.—'He is a very good man; he has drawn a likeness of mine, but received no remuneration. He loves me very dearly; there is no harm in your sitting before him.'

Mother.—'Do as you think best; but mind, I cannot go anywhere else. Better bring him here.'