Page:Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar, a story of his life and work.djvu/504

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BETHUNE SCHOOL.
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introduce you to her. On another occasion I think she will be glad to meet the gentlemen of the committee, but it will be better to defer this till Mr. Seton Karr has returned to Calcutta.

"Yours very truly


(Sd.) "W. S. Atkinson."

On the appointed day, Vidyasagar went to the Bethune School, and met Miss Carpenter. At the very first meeting each read the other's heart, and soon the acquaintance of a short time grew into sincere friendship. Miss Carpenter visited also some of the female schools of places neighbouring to Calcutta, and in these visits she would generally insist on the accompaniment of Vidyasagar. On the 16th December, 1866, she paid a visit to the Uttarapara Girl-School, founded by Bijay Krishna Mukharji, in company with Mr. Atkinson, the Director of Public Instruction, Mr. Woodrow, an Inspector of Schools, and Vidyasagar. On their return journey, as Vidyasagar was being driven in a buggy in company with another gentleman, who was driving the vehicle, to the Bally Railway Station, the buggy suddenly overturned in trying to turn to a cross way, and Vidyasagar was thrown away to some distance, where he fell heavily and lost his consciousness. A great crowd of sight-seers assembled on the road, but none ventured to advance to his help. Miss Carpenter was following at a distance in another vehicle in company with her two European friends. When she