পাতা:চিঠিপত্র (ত্রয়োদশ খণ্ড)-রবীন্দ্রনাথ ঠাকুর.pdf/২২০

softly up the stairs because it was still sleeping time. I had hardly reached the first landing on the stairs when what do you think I beheld 7 It was a sight for the gods to see. On the small open veranda I found an old-world Rishi incarnate seated on the floor in deep meditation. I stopped there and looked on for full fifteen minutes when what looked like a trance was over. The poet's age was nearer to forty than fifty in those days. I would not multiply instances which can be found galore in the good man's life. I will turn now to another side of the picture. With all his greatness the poet was not a god. He had his failings and one of them I would mention. With all his intelligence he at times, yielded to secret insinuations of telltale sneaks. He invariably cast off the obsession and asserted his normal self in a short time, but for the time being, to use his own expression. he acted as one possessed. A certain individual once happened to speak against me to him in private. He was deeply annoyed but would not tell me why. Every morning at prayer time we met before we dispersed to our classes. His sweet, smiling greetings were our encouragement and asset for లి