"Mama!" "Here I am, Mrs. Grandcourt." "What else would you have me be?" "You were ready to die with vexation when you thought I would not be Mrs. Grandcourt." "Hush, child." "How could I help feeling it when I am parting from you?" "I can bear anything gladly if you are happy." "How could I not be?" "I shall have everything at my beck and call." "I shall enjoy everything gloriously... splendid houses and horses..." "And always loving you better than anybody else in the world." "Oh, my sweet child." "I shan't be jealous if you love your husband better." "I mean, he will expect to be first." "Rather a ridiculous expectation." "But I don't mean to treat him ill unless he deserves it." "I wish you were going with me, mama." "These will be our dens." "You'll like to be quiet here until dinner, I think." "Yes." "Good." "We shall dine early." "Till later, then." "You can tell the maid to leave everything." "I shan't want her again unless I ring." "Very good, ma'am." "Here is a packet just arrived, ma'am." "Oh, good." "Thank you." ""These diamonds," ""which were given with ardent love to me," ""I now pass on to you." ""You have broken your word to me" ""and chosen to injure me and my children." "You will have your punishment."" ""You will have your punishment." "The man you have married has a withered heart."" "I am the grave in which your happiness is buried as well as mine." "The wrong you have done me will be your curse." "Ah." "Come here." "No!" "Come here, I said." "Don't touch me!" "What's the matter with you?" "Stand still." "Stand." "There." "There." "That's better." "Rest yourself against me." "No!" "No!" "No?" "Don't be such a damned little coquette, Gwendolen." "It's my turn now." "Don't you understand?" "You're my wife now." "Come." "Get up here." "Go!" "Uhh!" "I don't know whether my mother is still alive, or my brother." "Their name is Lapidoth?" "No." "Cohen." "Sarah Cohen and Ezra Cohen." "Can I help you, sir?" "What is the price of this book?" "What are you disposed to give for it?" "Don't you know its value?" "I know the value, but I don't know the market price." "Are you interested in Jewish history?" "Yes." "I-I'm interested in all kinds of history." "But particularly Jewish history?" "Are you perhaps a member of our race?" "No, not at all." "I'm simply curious, that's all." "I beg your pardon." "How much for the book?" "Whatever you like." "Good evening, sir." "I was just about to close up, but now you're here, we're all at your service." "Uh, if it's not too much trouble," "I saw some silver clasps in the window." "I'll get them, Ezra." "Mother, mother." "See how she wants to do everything for me?" "I'm her only son, you see, sir." "And there's my wife adelaide, and these are my children, all come to see the fine gentleman." "I hope you don't object, sir." "No, not at all." "There we are, sir." "Fine work, as you see." "How much are we asking, Ezra?" "Only three guineas." "You know silver, sir, I'm sure." "You know a bargain when you see one." "Um, Mrs. Cohen, might I ask, did you..." "do you have a daughter as well as a son?" "Mrs. Cohen, I beg your pardon." "It's all right, sir." "It's all right." "So what about these silver clasps?" "They're very handsome." "Could I come back tomorrow?" "Certainly, but tomorrow's our sabbath." "We should be closing early." "I could be here by 5:00." "Will that do?" "She says she'll have her sabbath frock on, sir." "Oh, a sight not to be missed, I'm sure." "Good-bye, Mr. Cohen." "Good-bye, sir." "Mrs. Cohen." "# "meow"" "# meow!" "# "meow"" "# mrow!" "# "me..."" "# me-e-e" "No, it's no good." "I can't go on if you're going to make me laugh." "Meow!" "No, please, I'll be very good this... meow!" "I'll be very good this time, I promise." "No more pussycat." "On my honor." "# meow" "# me-e-ow" "There you are, Daniel." "Look at this." "We hardly thought that Mirah could laugh till Hans came back from Rome." "Hans." "Daniel!" "You seem in great force." "How was Rome?" "Splendid!" "And it's splendid to be home as well." "He's been just perfect ever since he came back, apart from his mischief-making." "Little mother!" "Please." "Good evening." "How are you?" "I'm well." "No need to ask how you are, I think." "Oh, Hans has kept us merry all week." "I love to hear them all talking together about what they did when they were little." "I never had that." "No, nor I." "No?" "No, of course." "But Mr. Hans said yesterday you thought so much of others, you hardly wanted anything for yourself." "Oh." "Mr. Hans said that, did he?" "Perhaps Mr. Hans has no idea what I might want for myself." "Ohh..." "Good evening." "I hope I'm not too late." "No, no, sir, of course not." "I'll get Ezra." "Do you want to see my knife?" "Yes, if you'll show it to me." "It's very impressive." "Have you got a knife?" "Would you like to swap?" "I'm afraid mine's at home." "Bring it next time." "Now, then, I see you've made friends." "Jacob, call Mordecai while I help the gentleman." "Here are the clasps." "Three guineas." "Should we say three pounds, as we're friends now?" "That's, uh, very good of you." "First-rate workmanship, sir." "I got them from Cologne." "He was just coming." "Mordecai's our lodger, sir." "I thought that we would meet again." "Perhaps you'd care to share our sabbath meal, sir." "We'd be honored." "I wouldn't wish to intrude." "No intrusion." "A pleasure." "You're most welcome." "And what do you call the baby?" "Eugenie, after the empress." "We went to see her at the crystal palace." "What a crowd!" "Mother was near squashed flat, weren't you, mother?" "But it was worth it, you know, to be there and to see them." "Do you know the emperor is very much like my boy Ezra in the face?" "Please!" "It's embarrassing." "What's the matter?" "If it's true, I shouldn't say so?" "What sort of knife is yours?" "Shh." "Good night." "Good night." " Thank you again." " Thank you for coming." "Will you walk with me a little?" "Then I can show you where you can get a cab." "Time for bed." "Gladly." "Do you know what brought you here tonight?" "I came for the silver clasps I saw yesterday." "And that's all?" "When I came last evening, I asked Mrs. Cohen if she had a daughter as well as a son, and it seemed to distress her." "Do you know what her trouble is?" "Nothing to do with you, Mr. Deronda." "That's not why you were sent here." "I came of my own accord." "Excuse me, but I believe you were sent here for a purpose, to find me." "To find you?" "Why?" "What would I have to do with you?" "You don't begin to guess yet?" "Well, it will all become clear in time." "Good night." "Park Lane." "Yes, sir." "I've been thinking about how we might help you get some engagements." "Have you by any chance heard of Julius Klesmer?" "Julius Klesmer?" "But of course." "I'll be seeing him over Christmas." "I thought I might mention you to him, ask his advice." "I'd like him to hear you sing." "Klesmer?" "To hear me?" "You don't want me to?" "Yes!" "Yes." "I must take this chance." "Thank you." "Mirah..." "Suppose you were to discover that your lost mother and brother were now..." "Very lowly people with no particular distinctions, would you mind very much?" "Should you want to know them if they were the sort of people society looks down on?" "Wh-why not?" "If they had good hearts and they wanted to know me and to welcome me." "Wouldn't you feel the same?" "Well, I don't know." "Yes, I believe I would." "Dan!" "You didn't say you'd call." " I hope you're not trying to give me the slip." " Not at all." "So, what do you think of her?" "Doesn't she look well?" "Yes, she does, very well." "Ah!" "You must come up and see what I've been doing." "And you too, Mirah." "No, not me." "I'd be embarrassed." "Why would she be embarrassed?" "Have you gone back to painting those classical nudes of yours?" "Amazons and sabines and... oh." "She is wonderful to paint, Dan." "Just to try to capture that..." "I don't know what it is that she has." "It's fascinating." "I can't get enough of her, Dan." "As you see." "I didn't bring her to this house to work as your unpaid model, Hans." "I'm not exploiting her, you know." "She's very glad to pose when she's not practicing, and she's more than a model to me." "Much more." "I care more for her than any girl I've ever known." "Oh." "And does she return your affection?" "Well, she likes me." "I think she feels she would need your permission before she allowed me any more than friendship." "I think perhaps I would need that permission, too." "It's not right, Hans." "Wh-why not?" "Because she's under your roof, indebted to you, obliged to be grateful." "It's all quite wrong." "She's far more indebted to you, far more obliged to be grateful to you, isn't she?" "But I'm not proposing myself as her lover." "Are you sure?" "I've seen you look at her." "What are your feelings for her?" "More to the point, what do you propose to do about them?" "I don't know, Hans." "I trust you'll let me know when you've made up your mind." "It is a matter of some concern to me." "Oh, come on, Dan, don't glower at me like that." "We can still be friends, can't we?" "I hope so." "Good." "I'll try not to make too much of my proximity." "And mind you don't." "I shall have to leave you all for a week or two in any case." "Hugo's going to the country for the Christmas holidays." "There will be a party staying at the abbey." "Ah, all the idle aristocracy of Europe." "Well, not quite." "Sir Hugo wants people to meet the new Mrs. Grandcourt." "I don't much care for formal parties, but, well, I owe sir Hugo everything." "Daniel, Daniel, look!" "We're making angels!" "Daniel, Daniel, look!" "We're making angels!" "Daniel!" "Daniel, look!" "Ah, there you are." "What's that you're reading?" ""A history of the Jews."" "What on earth are you doing with that?" "I came across it when I was trying to trace Mir... miss Lapidoth's family for her." "Oh, yes, your little waif and stray." "That's not how I'd describe her." "What are you doing with your life these days, Daniel?" "Not much, I suppose, but I've been doing a good deal of reading and thinking and finding out about other lives, lives very different from ours." "Do you mind if I tell you what I'd like to see you doing?" "Not at all." "I'd like to see you engaging in a serious profession... the law, perhaps, but not necessarily for itself." "It's a step to greater things... politics, say." "I think you might have a very good career there." "You read widely and you think deeply." "But it's no good keeping these things to yourself." "I think you underestimate yourself, Dan." "I believe you've the makings of a leader in you." "This country needs new ideas." "Aim high, Dan!" "Now, you think about that." "I will." "Of course, you can always help your young women in your spare time." "Oh, by the way, do you know that your temptress from Leubronn will be here this evening?" "Yes." "Do you think you will be proof against temptation, or shall we have to lash you to the mast?" "I don't think that will be necessary." "After all, she is another man's wife." "Oh, yes, so she is." "Well, well." "Hmm." "An interesting girl." "Woman, we should say now, I suppose." "They say he gave the family diamonds to his mistress, but the new bride made him go and take them back off her." "And looking at her, you can believe it, eh?" "What do you say?" "I should say that was most unlikely." "Well, it's true about the mistress, Mrs. Glasher... a very fiery woman, they say." "And she's given him a fine son." "Then what right had he to marry this girl?" "I daresay she knew all about it." "A man like that is quite a prize, with or without encumbrances." "Well, well, Mr. and Mrs. Klesmer." "Sir Hugo is very liberal these days." "I never thought to see one of the chosen race here at the abbey." "What do you say, Lady pentreath?" "Glad to find a little romance still left among us." "And after all, it's hardly a misalliance..." "No blood on either side." "All the same, though, it's a far cry from tying the knot with one of the sons of Shem, wouldn't you say?" "If there is a misalliance, I'd say it was on Klesmer's side." "He'll be remembered and revered long after the rest of us are forgotten, I think." "Excuse me." "Such a strange young man." "Why should he take the cares of the world upon his shoulders?" "I understand he has a little Jewish protégée himself." "Ah, so that's it." "Mr. Deronda, that was delightful." "That is the true English baritone for you." "Never heard it sung better." "No, no." "Ask Klesmer if you want the truth." "What is your verdict, Mr. Klesmer?" "Middling." "That's all I aim for." "Thank you." "Yes, you understand true excellence, I think, but you content yourself with very much less." "In some things, music being one of them, as you rightly observe." "Will you not join in the music?" "I join in it by listening." "I'm very fond of music." "But you're not a musician at all?" "I have given a great deal of time to music, but I haven't the talent to make it worthwhile." "But if you're fond of music..." "I shall never sing again." "You see, I couldn't bear to be middling." "To me, that's another word for being dull, and I have such a dread of dullness." "That's why I gamble." "And lose." "Yes." "What's this about your little protégée, Mr. Deronda?" "Miss Lapidoth?" "She is the most wonderful singer." "She's recently arrived in London and plans to give recitals there and lessons." "I am to have her in my drawing room when we go up to town." "You will hear her then." "To please you, I'll set her on my nine granddaughters." "I hope she'll convince eight of them never to sing again except in church." "Most girls these days want teaching not to sing, in my view." "Do you think you might relent, perhaps?" "I should like to hear miss Lapidoth since you admire her so much." "Is she as perfect in everything else as in her music?" "I can't vouch for that, exactly." "I haven't seen enough of her." "She's had an unhappy life." "But yes, she's borne it all with patience and good humor and true grace and refinement." "I have no sympathy with these people who are always doing right." "I don't believe in their great sufferings." "What is it?" "What's the matter?" "I despise myself." "I wish you could know everything about my life without my telling you." "Are you persuading Mrs. Grandcourt to sing for us, Daniel?" "I can't persuade myself." "Oh..." "Well..." "Am I altogether as you like?" "No." "Put on the diamonds." "I don't want to wear them." "These go much better with this dress." "You must see that." "Hmm." "I wish you to wear the diamonds." "Please excuse me." "I prefer the turquoise." "What you prefer has nothing to do with it." "Take them off and put on the diamonds." "Why should I?" "Because I am your husband and I tell you to." "Hmm." "Have you resolved not to dance anymore?" "Yes." "Aren't you glad?" "I'm sure you've danced more than you'd like to already." "You could fetch me a glass of water, if you would." "It's very close in here." "Perhaps we should go into the cloisters." "Yes." "It'll be cooler there." "Shall we?" "No, I don't care to." "You go if you like." "Deronda will take you." "I wore it for you." "Do you remember?" "Of course I remember." "And do you still think badly of me?" "I never thought badly of you, not then and not now." "I did think you might be throwing your life away." "Oh, I wasn't throwing my life away then." "That was just a few francs." "If you knew what my life is now..." "And I brought it on myself." "But I had to do something to help my family." "Don't you see?" "No." "That's not true." "I married him because I couldn't bear to be a governess." "There." "Do you despise me now?" "How could I despise you?" "You would if you knew everything." "I think I shall be damned for what I've done." "No, not you." "This place..." "is this where you grew up?" "Yes." "How wonderful to have spent your childhood here." "We were always shifting from place to place, always dependent on other people." "We were never settled, never secure like you." "I've always felt as if I were walking on a high wire, with nothing to save me if I fell." "I was lucky to grow up here." "But, in a way, I never really felt I belonged." "I used to think my real parents would come one day and take me away and tell me it was all a mistake." "But I thought... you always seemed so strong, so definite, as if you know exactly who you are and what you want." "I don't know how to..." "I don't know how to endure my life." "Tell me what I can do." "I'm frightened of everything." "I'm frightened of what I might do." "Help me, please." "I'm beginning to think that the only way to be happy is to find something outside ourselves worth caring about and to work for that." "Do you mean charity?" "It's hard to explain." "It's about using your unhappiness to help you see other people's pain." "But you do care something for me." "I care very much about you." "Then we can see each other again?" "You will let me come and see you sometimes and talk to you?" "Gladly, if it will help you." "Oh, yes." "I'm ready to go now if you are." "Mr. Deronda will excuse us to Lady Mallinger." "Good night." "Sit down, would you?" "Oblige me in future by not indulging your whims like a mad woman in a play." "What do you mean?" "I suppose there is some understanding between you and Deronda about that thing on your wrist." "If you have anything to say to him, say it." "Don't telegraph it for everyone to see." "It's damnably vulgar." "You can know all about the necklace." "I don't want to know." "What I care to know, I shall know without your telling me." "But you will oblige me by behaving as becomes my wife..." "And not make a spectacle of yourself." "Do you object to my talking to Mr. Deronda?" "I don't care two straws about Deronda or any other conceited hanger-on." "You may talk to him as much as you like." "But you will understand that you are not to compromise yourself." "Behave with dignity." "That's all I have to say." "Now..." "Take that thing off your wrist and come over here." "No." "Hard around!" "Good." "Watch it." "Thank you." "Thank you, sir." "Here you go." "Mordecai." "I was waiting for you." "That's extraordinary." "I was coming to see the Cohens at the shop." "Rest a while." "You said you were waiting for me." "How could that be?" "I didn't send word I was coming this evening." "I knew you were coming." "I have been waiting for five years." "Shall we go?" "There, that's better." "I'm so glad you're here, Daniel." "You see, I'm dying." "But you have come in time." "I'm very glad if I give you comfort." "And..." "I hope you're wrong about the gravity of your condition." "Never mind that." "You're here." "And you know that you've been sent here for a purpose." "You've been chosen." "Chosen by whom?" "For what?" "By God to be a leader of our people." "But don't you remember?" "I told you the first time we met," "I-I'm not a member of your race." "You are not sure of your own origin." "I..." "I have never known my mother." "I don't know anything about her." "But I am convinced that my father is an Englishman." "You don't know your own origin." "You don't know where you come from." "Let me tell you." "You are one of us." "No." "No." "Think about it." "Something brings you to Whitechapel, to this shop, to me." "Yes, I was making enquiries for a... you pick up a book at random." "What book is it?" "The book that will tell you everything you need to know." "You see, you have been chosen." "You will be my life." "You will take the inheritance." "You will take the sacred inheritance of the Jew." "Huh." "Gwen!" "Gwen!" "Gwen!" "Gwen!" "Gwen!" "Gwen!" "What a lovely surprise this is, Gwendolen." "Well, Mr. Grandcourt has gone out, so I determined to fill up the time by coming to see you, mama." "There's only one more day's hunting." "We shall be going up to town next week." "Oh." "We hoped we might see more of you while you were at Diplow." "Yes, so did I." "But Mr. Grandcourt doesn't care for company much." "He says he finds society a confounded bore." "One might as well go to one's kennels and talk to one's hounds." "What a funny man." "But he wouldn't stop you visiting people and having friends, would he?" "And receiving mama?" "Isobel, dear... when one is married, one must consider one's husband's wishes." "He's tamed you, hasn't he?" "He thinks he has." "But I should be allowed to come to you if you were ill, darling?" "Oh, yes, but you know I am never ill." "So, where has Mr. Grandcourt gone today?" "To Gadsmere, I believe." "What sort of place is that, Gwen?" "I don't know." "I've never been there." "He calls it a dog hutch of a place in a Black Country." "Why does he go there, then?" "He has affairs which take him there, I understand." "Dog hutch affairs?" "You mustn't fret about me, mama." "Be happy with the girls." "They are better children to you than I have been, you know." "No." "You've always been good, my darling." "I remember nothing else." "What did I ever do that was good to you except marry Mr. Grandcourt?" "And I shouldn't have done that unless it pleased myself." "Well, God forbid, child, I wouldn't have had you marry for my sake." "Now, mama, you mustn't be cross with me." "Mr. Grandcourt gives me far more money than I can spend, and you know how I hate charity children and all that." "Here's £30." "Let the girls spend it on little things for themselves." "Oh, Gwendolen, no, you shouldn't." "Take it." "Bless you, dear." "Come along, girls." "She's going." "He's coming!" "He's coming!" "He's got ever such a big hat on." "Artists always have big hats." "Artists often have swelled heads." "Oh!" "Oh!" "Mr. Julius Klesmer, ma'am." "Mrs. Meyrick." "Our friend Mr. Deronda has spoken to me about your young protégée miss Lapidoth." "No." "This is miss Lapidoth." "Ah." "Let us shake hands." "You are a true musician." "Thank you." "Not for great tasks." "No high roofs." "I would not advise..." "I would not further your singing in any larger space than a London drawing room, but you will do well there." "And in London, that is one of the best careers open." "Lessons will follow." "Will you come and sing at a private concert" "I'm organizing for sir Hugo Mallinger?" "Yes." "I should be grateful to." "No reason for gratitude." "You are a true musician and you deserve to be heard." "Miss Lapidoth." "Mrs. Meyrick, Mr. Meyrick," "Deronda, young ladies," "I bid you good day." "Thank you." "We have been invited to a soiree in Park Lane." "Sir Hugo and Lady Mallinger." "A musical soiree." "Touting for that new little Jewess, no doubt." "I suppose your friend Deronda will be there." "Since he lives there, I imagine it's quite likely." "Don't worry." "I shan't wear that turquoise necklace that disgusted you so much." "I should like you to wear the green satin." "And the diamonds, of course." "Whatever gives you pleasure." "Bravo!" "Bravo!" "Bravo." "You must let me say how much I am obliged to you, miss Lapidoth." "I had heard from Mr. Deronda that I should have a great treat in hearing your singing, but I was too ignorant to imagine how great." "Good of you to say so." "I was so nervous, you know." "Oh, you shouldn't have been." "Will you come and sing at grosvenor square as well?" "My husband has no ear at all, but I should be thrilled." "We're having a musical evening on the fourth." "I do hope you can come." "You are very kind, Mrs. Grandcourt." "I should be honored." "Then it is settled." "I shall look forward to it." "Your little Jewess is very pretty." "There's no denying it." "But where's her Jewish impudence?" "She looks as demure as a nun." "I can assure you, her modest demeanor is quite natural to her." "I congratulate you, Mr. Deronda." "I'm sure she's very grateful." "And who is that Van Dyke duchess of a beauty?" "Oh, that's Mrs. Grandcourt." "Yes, I see now." "A man could make himself rather wicked for your Mrs. Grandcourt." "She's not my Mrs. Grandcourt." "No?" "I think she could be, you know?" "Miss Lapidoth seems to be a very happy person." "I must say, she bears her troubles very well." "Yes, she does." "There seems to be hardly any need for me to say things when you know everything I'm thinking." "So miss Lapidoth is your good cause now and you have forsaken me." "No, I have not forsaken you." "Thank you." "I invited miss Lapidoth to come and sing at our house." "I hope you don't mind." "I'd sooner not have Deronda's mistress at Grosvenor Square." "His what?" "Well, it's obvious." "Anyone can see what their relationship is." "Only men like you who judge others by themselves." "I suppose you take Deronda for a saint." "No." "Only a little less of a monster than you are." "Am I a monster, then?" "You know what you are." "And it's not true about Deronda and Mirah Lapidoth." "Yes, it is." "I'd prefer it if you didn't come to my bed tonight." "You'd prefer that, would you?" "Well, I'm afraid I must disappoint you." "Come." "Mrs. Mallinger Grandcourt." "Is miss Lapidoth at home?" "Miss Lapidoth, there's a Mrs. Grandcourt to see you." "Mrs. Grandcourt." "Please, sit down." "I thought..." "I hope you will be able to sing at our house on the fourth." "Yes, of course." "I thought it was already arranged." "There's no problem, I hope." "No." "I just wanted to be sure of you." "I thought I might see Mr. Deronda here." "He comes here very often." "To see you?" "Yes." "And Hans and Mrs. Meyrick and the girls." "He is very kind." "He pays all my expenses, you know." "He pays your expenses?" "He keeps you?" "Yes, but soon I shall be able to keep myself very well." "It's not like that, you know." "Did you think it was?" "No." "I never believed it could be true." "But you know how people talk." "And you thought it might be true and you came to see if you could find out." "I never believed it." "Please." "I never believed it." "I know he cares about you very much." "Does he love you?" "Shouldn't you perhaps ask him that?" "If you dare to ask it at all." "I'm sorry." "Mirah, are you here?" "Mrs. Grandcourt." "Forgive me." "I shan't intrude any longer." "Good morning." "Mrs. Grandcourt." "Gwendolen." "What did she want?" "I'm not sure I could tell you." "She said she wanted to be sure of me." "For her musical evening?" "Yes." "I suppose so."