Page:The Gospel of Râmakrishna.djvu/159

 Bhagavan: A visit to me! Oh, for shame! for shame! Vidyasagara: My dear Sir, this from Thee! I wish to know why dost Thou say so? Bhagavan: Well, we are like fishing-boats, small and light enough to row about on ponds, narrow canals or even on large rivers, but you are like a big steamer. Who can tell?—you might founder on the sand-bank if you venture too far up the stream; but now at this season steamers may go up without much danger. Vidyasagara: Oh I see; this is the rainy season. At about eight in the evening it was announced that the carriage was ready to take Sri Ramakrishna back to the Thakurbadi at Dakshineswara. The Bhagavan became absent-minded for a while; perhaps His mind was fixed upon the Divine Mother, or perhaps He was asking Her blessing upon His kind host. The Bhagavan then rose to bid him farewell and Vidyasagara, with a lighted candle in his hand, led the way down-stairs and through the compound of his house to the gate. Outside the gate a carriage was waiting to receive the honored guest and His devoted companions from the Thakurbadi. An unexpected sight greeted the eyes of the