Page:Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar, a story of his life and work.djvu/693

646 But in spite of these serious disasters and catastrophes, he never for an instant lost sight of his duties. His educational institutions were always before his eyes. We have already said, that he had delegated some of his anxieties to his third son-in-law, Suryya Kumar Adhikari, whom he had made Principal of the Metropolitan Institution, and was thus somewhat relieved. But, as ill luck would have it, shortly after the death of his beloved wife, he was highly offended at Suryya Kumar's conduct and failure of duty, and was constrained to dismiss him. After the banishment of Narayan Chandra, he had taken to Suryya Kumar in the light of his own son, and treated him with the fondest affection. But he had a strong sense of duty, which topped the foremost of his affections. That he who could easily estrange his only son from his heart for failure of duty, should dismiss his son-in-law for a similar offence is no strange thing. But, at the same time, it ought to be confessed, that he must have considered the offence unpardonable.

After this, he had often to visit the Institution personally. He used to go there in a palanquin; he was too weak to walk. After his fall from the chaise at Uttarpara, he very rarely travelled in horse-carriages. He had sufficient means to keep a coach and horse, but he had an aversion for articles of luxury. It is said, that he had once kept a close-carriage and a pair, but he was soon disgusted, and parted with them.