Page:Anecdotes of Indian Life.djvu/19

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ANECDOTES OF INDIAN LIFE

it stopped for a second and seemed inclined to get down and pay his respects to the grand good man before lie passed on. But something weighed with him against the purpose and the next instant he countermanded his order and the carriage rolled away. Vidyàsàgar smiled.

When next time he met the young aristocrat, he said, "You were in a nice fix the other day, my dear. You were anxious to come down to me when you saw me at the shop. Yet you could not in consideration of the place where I was. What would the world say when it saw or heard of your saluting the feet of a man who sat in a squalid place talking to low people? So prudence won the day and you passed on; eh, my child?" Vidyàsàgar was as plain-spoken as he was good. "Indeed, sir, you are sometimes seen in places and company of which we cannot but feel ashamed." "Well then, my little lord," retorted Vidyàsàgar, "the best thing for you to do in that case would be to cut me altogether. I tell you I cannot give up my poor and lowly, the simple and sincere-hearted and will associate with them whenever need be." The youngman hung down his head.