Page:Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar, a story of his life and work.djvu/691

 at once, you would kindly give me some employment like others in your school. When you will be satisfied with my working capacity, conduct and character, you would be pleased to permit me to serve your feet; in that case, I shall have the opportunity to see your feet morning and evening. In fine, you must anyhow give me shelter under your noble feet. By a faithful discharge of the duties of two offices—those of my own office and of the Local Board office—I have been able to give satisfaction to my superiors, who are quite strangers and devoid of feelings of affection for me; why should I then be unable to render satisfaction to you, my merciful father? I can no more venture to live an idle life; nor can I any more live separated from your noble feet.

'Hemlata was offering me the keys to the boxes of my mother's ornaments and plates, but I have advised her to present all those at your venerable feet.

What pathetic language! In fact, Narayan Chandra was truly repentant of his former faults, whatever they might have been. There can be no doubt, that those faults were most serious, so much so that even such a naturally kind-hearted, forgiving father as Vidyasagar was constrained to banish the only dear son to a thousand miles from his heart. He was however ultimately softened,