Page:Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar, a story of his life and work.djvu/583

536 volent intentions.' It is needless to say, that Vidyasagar's heart bounded with delight to hear his son speak in this strain.

We have already said, that Narayan Chandra's mother was not present at the nuptials. Vidyasagar was afraid, that she would oppose the marriage. It was this fear which led him to provide for a separate rented house for the accommodation of the married couple. But Narayan Chandra said to us that she had had no objection to the alliance, and she declared it openly after the marriage. The truth of Narayan Chandra's saying is evident from the fact that when she came down to Calcutta, she lived in the same mess with her son and his wife. She was quite illiterate and a devout follower of the orthodox Hindu faith, and yet it was her love for her husband and dear child, that made her live with them in the same mess and look to their comfort. It may not be out of place to mention here, that Vidyasagar's father, Thakurdas, was opposed to female education, and he had not allowed his daughters-in-law to learn to read and write.

That Sambhu Chandra was quite against this marriage and had written to his brother to prevent the union, is evident from the letter, which Vidyasagar addressed to him after the celebration of the marriage. The letter was in Bengali; we will try to give its purport here in English.

'My dear brother,

'On Thursday, the 27th Sravan, Narayan