Vidyasagara: O yes; certainly. Thou hast been so kind as to come to me, shall I not return my visit to Thee?

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?

[Humility of Ramakrishna.] 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

party as they came out. It was a man who might have been a little under forty standing before the gate with folded hands. He was dressed in white and wore a white turban on his head. He had a fair complexion and expressive eyes and a smile was on his face. No sooner did he see the Bhagavan than he fell at His feet with his head touching the ground.

The Bhagavan said: Is it you, Balaram? How is it that I find you here?

Balaram [**] replied, smiling: O Revered Sir, I have been waiting for some time here at the gate to see Thee.

Bhagavan: Why did you not come in?

Balaram: I came late, so I would not interrupt Thee, but thought it better to stay here.

The Bhagavan then stepped into the carriage with His companions.

Vidyasagara asked a disciple: Shall I see the carriage hire paid?

The disciple replied: No, Sir, you need not

trouble yourself. It has already been paid by a friend.