Page:Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar, a story of his life and work.djvu/371

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.
328
ISVAR CHANDRA TIDYASAGAK.

If he ever omitted to call at the Belvedere, on a Thursday, his friend would send for him. On one occasion, it so happened that Vidyasagar had not called on the appointed day. Halliday was very anxious for him. By chance, Raja Rajendra Lala Mallik of Chorbagan had gone there to have an interview with the Lieutenant Governor, who after the business was over, requested him to see Vidyasagar that very night and send him on to Belvedere. Rajendra Lala did as he was desired, and Vidyasagar called at the Belvedere on the next morning. On another occasion, when Vidyasagar presented himself at the Lieutenant Governor's palace, he saw several respectable gentlemen waiting in the Drawing-room for an interview with the Governor. Halliday was then upstairs, and as soon as Vidyasagar's card was presented to him, he at once sent for his friend, keeping the other gentlemen in suspense. Vidyasagar used to visit Halliday in his usual native dress (a plain Dhuti and Chadar without even a Shirt) with a pair of ordinary slippers on. But, at last at the earnest request of the Governor, he had to put on native official dress, (i. e. trousers, Chapkan, Choga and pagri) for a few days, when calling at Belvedere. He felt ill at ease with this unaccustomed dress, and one day, said to his friend,—'Sir, if you will excuse me, this is my last visit. This dress puts me to great discomfort.' Halliday replied,—’If this be your only objection, I exempt you from