"Mesdames, messieurs, faites vos jeux." "Striking girl, very striking." "Don't you think, Vandernoodt?" "A man might risk hanging for her." "Well, a fool might." "She's with baroness Langen." "Oh, ein deutches madchen." "No, no, she's English." "And rich?" "Eh, who knows?" "Who knows that about anybody these days?" "Dix-sept noir." "Impair et manche." "Faites vos jeux, mesdames, messieurs." "Les jeux sont fait." "Dix-sept noir." "Impair et manche." "Stop now." "Think, you can take your winnings back home to England." "Faites vos jeux, mesdames et messieurs." "My dear, what are you doing?" "Is crazy to play this way!" "It is the only way." "Les jeux sont fait." "Oh!" "Vingt-huit noir." "Pair et passe." "Do you know that man?" "With Sir Hugo Mallinger?" "That is Daniel Deronda, his son... adopted son, I should say." "It is assumed that he is Sir Hugo's illegitimate son." "Really?" "You are interested?" "Possibly." "He seems..." "Not like young men in general." "And you don't like young men in general?" "No, I don't." "Well, dear, what do you think of the place?" "I think it's charming." "No one need be ashamed of living here." "Well, that's a relief." "So clever of you, Uncle, to find it for us." "It would do for fallen royalty, it's so romantic." "There's certainly nothing to be ashamed of." "Come on, let's go inside." "Thank you." "Old things, as you see, but all quite good." "It's perfect." "I want to do all the country things... sketching and archery... and I shall have a horse and ride out every day." "Well, you're welcome to borrow old Betsy as often as you like." "No, Uncle, I mean a proper horse." "Something pretty, so you can be proud of me when you see me out on him." "But, my dear, we must be aware of the expense." "Oh, but I must." "It might be managed." "She always gets everything she wants!" "That's because I won't put up with anything less." "Come on, let's explore." "You're really too kind to us, Harry." "Not really." "I'm a rational man, Fanny, and I make rational judgments." "That girl is worth some expense as an investment." "You don't often see her like, you know." "She might make a brilliant marriage." "She deserves her chance, Fanny." "Let's see what she can do." "By God, she's a beautiful girl." "Yes." "I'm rather sorry we invited her." "She does rather outshine our poor Catherine." "Who is she, exactly?" "Gwendolen Harleth." "Her mother's Mrs. Davilow." "The second husband died recently." "Not a man of substance or breeding." "Now they've washed up here." "Rex." "Not for you, Rex." "And why shouldn't she be?" "Cousins, Rex." "Never works." "Besides, she needs to capture a fortune." "Charming!" "Charming!" "Encore!" "Encore!" "Oh, yes, please, Gwendolen." "No, I couldn't possibly." "It would be too cruel to a great musician." "How you must despise us, herr Klesmer." "Not at all." "It's always a pleasure to see you sing." "Oh, I say, look here." "You see what I have to go through, Gwen." "Herr Klesmer can hardly tolerate anything we English do in music." "I suppose we should be grateful for being told the worst." "I daresay I have been very ill-taught as well as having no talent." "Yes, you have been very ill-taught." "Still, you're not quite without talent." "Never mind, Gwen." "Coming from him, that's a great compliment." "But the music you sing is beneath you... no cries of deep, mysterious passion." "Well..." "I'm sure we would all love to hear you play." "What right has that damned fellow to insult you?" "Every right, unfortunately." "But it was sweet of you to care, Rex." "Mr. Clintock." "I wish you'd sing to us again." "That's the style of music for me, I..." "I can never make anything of this tip-top playing." "You prefer the mediocre, then?" "No, no, not what I..." "Dash it, you know what I mean!" "Excuse me, I must go to poor mamma." "She does not like to stay out too late." "Imagine being so rich that you could keep one of Europe's leading composers as a family pet." "Even though he does snap and snarl rather." "Hmm." "I don't know why anyone would want such a creature around them." "But the Arrowpoints have been very kind to you, Gwendolen." "Such a pity they weren't blessed with sons." "Such a pity for themselves or for us?" "But the Clintocks are almost as wealthy." "Did you like young Mr. Clintock?" "Oh, he's a fool, mother!" "Do you know what he told me?" "He's writing a poem in four cantos about croquet." "Oh..." "Dear." "Is that so very bad?" "I wish I didn't have to be married at all." "From what I've seen of it, it seems a very dreary life." "So many women allow themselves to be made slaves of." "All those children." "It's certainly not the fulfillment of my ambition." "Well, perhaps it's just that you've not met the man you could really love just yet." "Well, perhaps." "It is just possible, I suppose." "Daniel!" "No, no, you must come in." "Things for you to see." "Daniel!" "Daniel!" "Mother, Dan's here!" "Oh, come and sing with us, Dan!" "He hasn't come for that." "Oh, Hans!" "Stay for tea, Dan!" "Well, what do you think?" "There's so much life." "You've been working hard, Hans." "All thanks to you." "At the end of term, I'd have had to go out looking for a job without your help." "And now I have this chance of studying the great masters in Rome." "I have more than I need." "What else would I do with it?" "I won't forget it." "And I hope one day I can pay you back." "Everything's come clear for me now." "I know what I want to do now, Dan." "I envy you." "What?" "Your certainty, I suppose." "Have you told Sir Hugo yet?" "No, not yet." "Leave Cambridge?" "But why on earth should you do that?" "Your tutor says you should get a fellowship." "It's not what I want, Sir." "I want to find my own way in the world." "Oh, and how do you propose to do that?" "I want to travel." "Not the grand tour." "I'd like to find out how other people live, understand their philosophies." "I just think there has to be much more to life than Eton and Cambridge and studying classics." "No, there's no doubt there is." "So you don't want to be an English gentleman to the backbone after all?" "Yes, of course I want to be an English gentleman, Sir." "But I want to understand other points of view." "Didn't you spend a year or two traveling in Europe when you were younger?" "One year." "The best and the worst year of my life." "Hmm." "Very well, Dan, suppose we say this... you take a little time off and then join us in the summer at Leubronn." "Who knows, you might find what you're looking for there." "Thank you, Sir." "Good morning." "Oh, Rex, what on earth is that you're riding?" "Oh, Betsy." "She tries her best." "My father can't afford to keep a hunter for me." "Not while I'm off at Oxford." "You make me feel quite guilty." "Why?" "You must know your father bought Persephone for me." "It's not fair, is it?" "I get everything I want, and you get nothing." "Well, I get the pleasure of seeing you ride." "Well, that's true." "Should we go hunting today?" "Ladies don't hunt, not in this part of the country." "Girls' lives are so stupid!" "We can never do what we like!" "And what should you like to do?" "Oh, I don't know, go to the North Pole, ride steeplechases, be a queen in the east." "That's Diplow Hall, Sir Hugo Mallinger's place." "His nephew Mallinger Grandcourt's taken it for the season." "Of course, when Sir Hugo dies," "Grandcourt will inherit this and all the rest." "He'll be one of the richest men in England." "Will he, indeed?" "Come on, I can hear the hounds." "Morning, Gascoigne." "How's your father?" "Very well, thank you, my lord." "Do you know... miss Harleth, ain't it?" "Glad to see you here." "We shall have a first-class run." "Pity you don't go with us." "Ever tried that mare at a ditch?" "You wouldn't be afraid, I'd wager, eh?" "Not the least in the world." "Good for you!" "By jove, here we go!" "Come on, come on." "Gwendolen!" "Come on!" "Come on!" "Gwendolen!" "Gwendolen!" "Come on, Betsy!" "Come on!" "Come on, Betsy!" "Come on!" "First-class day." "First-class sport." "A fine little mare that." "Saw young Quillan's face when you shot past him." "That gave him something to think about." "Dislocated shoulder." "Oh, dear." "Poor you." "I wish I'd seen it." "I shouldn't say that." "Is it very painful?" "Well, yes it is, rather." "I'm sorry." "This is awful of me." "I am sorry, really." "My father wants me to spend the rest of the vacation in Southampton." "I can't really say no." "Southampton?" "What on earth for?" "Well, I think it's something to do with you." "What do you mean?" "Don't you know?" "Well, Southampton seems a very stupid place to go to." "It will be for me..." "Because you're not there." "That's a very pretty speech." "It's not meant to be a pretty speech." "Will you mind about my going away?" "Yes, of course I shall." "Everyone is important in this dreary neighborhood." "For God's sake, Gwendolen!" "Don't treat me as if I..." "I can't go away..." "Without telling you I love you..." "And knowing that you love me, a little, at least." "And you do, don't you?" "Don't touch me, I can't bear it!" "I don't want to be made love to." "Talk about something else or go away." "That's the last word you have to say to me on the subject?" "On that subject, yes, it is." "I like you very much apart from that, you know." "Sorry." "What's the matter?" "I shall never love anybody." "I can't love people." "I only hate them!" "Don't break off for me." "A welcome interruption." "I had had already as much as I could bear of miss Arrowpoint's playing." "Ah, her company, now, different matter entirely." "And you wonder why nobody likes you." "Come, Gwen, let's leave him to himself." "Mamma insists I wear a gold dress for the archery contest." "I think she means to advertise how rich we are to Mr. Grandcourt." "Mr. Grandcourt." "Is he coming, then?" "Supposedly." "What is he like?" "I don't know, I haven't met him yet." "How disappointing if he should turn out to be a toad." "Disappointing for some." "If he turns out not to be a toad, perhaps I shall make him fall in love with me, and then send him packing." "What would you say to that?" "Nothing at all." "My affections lie elsewhere." "Really?" "Who?" "I can't say." "You musn't ask me." "It's impossible anyway." "Ladies, when you are ready, you may loose your arrows." "Ladies, you may collect your arrows." "It's really rather scandalous of you to do so well, Gwendolen, on your first outing." "It's not my fault." "If I'm to aim, I can't help hitting." "Ha!" "That might be a fatal business for some young man." "It's their lookout if they get in the way." "I suppose that's what my poor boy Rex did." "Yes, I suppose it is." "Grandcourt, there you are at last!" "Miss Harleth, allow me to introduce you to Mr. Henleigh Mallinger Grandcourt." "How do you do?" "How do you do?" "Lord Brackenshaw, Mr. Gascoigne, would you come and settle a point of difference?" "Of course, my dear, what is it?" "Miss Fenn is claiming a red, but I rather think she has scored a gold." "I used to think archery was a great bore." "And have you been converted today?" "Believe I have, yes." "In things of this sort, one generally sees people missing and simpering." "I suppose you're a first-rate shot with a rifle." "I've left off shooting." "But not hunting, I hear." "One must do something." "Are you fond of horses?" "Yes." "I never like my life so well as when I am on horseback." "I think of nothing." "I only feel myself strong and happy." "Do you like danger?" "I don't know." "Yes, I believe I do." "Good." "Just missed winning the golden arrow, Gwendolen." "Juliet Fenn pipped you on the overall score." "I'm glad to hear it." "One doesn't wish to carry off the best of everything." "Doesn't one." "Why not?" "Well, one doesn't want to make oneself unpopular." "Why should you care what these people think?" "Shall you go to the ball this evening, Sir?" "Yes, I believe I shall." "I say, Grandcourt... yes, Lush, when I'm ready." "Miss Harleth." "Mr. Gascoigne." "Who's the other one?" "Lush?" "He's Grandcourt's friend." "Goes everywhere with him, apparently." "He's Grandcourt's creature." "Grandcourt doesn't go in for friends." "He keeps Lush to do things for him." "What sort of things?" "The things he doesn't care to do himself." "He looks..." "Unpleasant." "I don't like him." "Mr. Lush or Mr. Grandcourt?" "Oh, Mr. Lush." "Mr. Grandcourt rather..." "Interests me." "Miss Harleth." "Mr. Clintock." "You don't care to dance?" "Won't you have the rest of this one with me?" "I don't care to waltz." "Don't care to waltz?" "Why ever not?" "It's too..." "What do you think of miss Arrowpoint's dress?" "All right." "Not half as pretty as yours." "They say Grandcourt has come here to woo her." "Do they?" "He's not working very hard at it." "Ah, these great men..." "They have their own way of doing things." "Miss Harleth." "Would you care to dance?" "I would be very happy to dance the next quadrille with you." "Somebody told me that you don't like dancing." "True." "But, as you see, I make an exception for you." "Should I be flattered?" "You should take it as a matter of course, as I think you do." "You understand your power." "My power?" "What power do I have over you?" "Do you like this sort of thing." "Yes." "Good." "Shall we sit down?" "Yes, all right." "Oh, no." "Give it to me, Lush." "Thank you." "I don't like that man." "Few people do." "But I find him useful." "Miss Harleth, I should like to see more of you." "Should you?" "Shall you call on miss Arrowpoint today?" "No." "Nothing will come of nothing." "When a man intends to marry a million... but I'm not going to marry a million, Lush." "That's a pity." "You know, it could be very useful." "Useful to you." "Spare your oratory." "I know what I'm going to do." "What?" "I'm going to marry the other girl." "Turn out that brute, would you?" "I shall get away from you!" "I don't think so!" "He's called on us nearly every day." "He sent for that horse specially, just so that she could try it." "He does appear to have serious intentions." "How does she receive him?" "I don't know." "I never know what she's thinking." "She says she doesn't love anybody." "How do you like him?" "Very well." "I should like to have a leap with him." "Why don't you, then?" "Not while my mamma's in sight." "I think she knows I would take care of you." "I should like the right always to take care of you." "I'm not sure I want to be taken care of." "If I'm going to risk my neck," "I'd rather be free to do it my own way." "So, have you asked her?" "Not yet." "I shall wait till the archery picnic, I think." "And you think she'll accept?" "She's a fool if she doesn't." "Forty-three." "She has a will of her own, I think." "Indeed, she has." "She doesn't like you, Lush." "My dear, you musn't be cross, but, um, your Uncle thinks you're leading Mr. Grandcourt rather a dance." "Yes." "Perhaps I am." "Has he... has he made his intentions clear?" "Oh, yes, I think so." "I don't understand." "I thought you liked him, dear." "So I do..." "As liking goes." "There's less to dislike about him than most men... verandas, stables, a tolerable figure, no horrid whiskers." "Do be serious for a moment, dear." "Um, your Uncle says Mr. Grandcourt is not a man to be trifled with." "Oh, mamma!" "I wish you'd leave me to myself." "Am I to understand that you mean to accept him?" "Because, if you do mean to accept him, you should leave him in no doubt." "Very well." "Then I shall." "Do you know how long it is since I last saw you in that dress?" "No." "Three weeks." "Do you intend to torment me much longer?" "No." "That would make me sorry." "Then would it be possible, perhaps, for us to meet in private?" "Well..." "Yes, that is..." "Later, then." "Yes, later." "I wish you very well." "Miss Harleth." "Thank you." ""Please break from your party at the whispering stones." "You will hear something of great interest."" "They look dreadfully ominous, don't they?" "One imagines all sorts of pagan rites." "Human sacrifice." "Oh, don't, Gwendolen." "I'm sorry." "I haven't your delicate sensibility, Catherine." "High cross this way, ladies." "And then to fortress oaks." "Don't wait." "I'll catch you up." "Are you there?" "Miss Harleth?" "Yes?" "Who are you?" "I have something to tell you about Mallinger Grandcourt." "What?" "What do you know of him?" "How do you know my name?" "Before I tell you, I want your word that you won't tell him or anyone else that you've seen me today." "He doesn't know I'm here." "Yes." "Go on, please." "Say what you have to say." "My name is Lydia Glasher." "I left my husband for Grandcourt nine years ago." "These children are his." "Now my husband is dead," "Grandcourt should marry me, nobody else." "He should marry me and make my son his heir." "You are very beautiful, miss Harleth, and very young." "When he first knew me, I was beautiful and young." "I'm..." "I'm very sorry for you..." "But what can I do?" "I can't make him marry you!" "You can promise me you won't stand between him and me, you won't ruin me and my children." "How could I ruin you?" "By marrying him yourself." "Then, I shan't." "You promise?" "Yes, I promise." "Thank you." "Gwendolen, what's the matter?" "Mr. Grandcourt was looking for you." "He may look if he likes." "I don't wish to be found." "Not by him at all events." "I intend to join the Langens at Leubronn, mamma." "I shall pack as soon as we get home and take the early train." "I'll be there almost as soon as they are, we can let them know by telegraph." "They were dying for me to join them." "Well, I've decided I shall, after all." "But why?" "What will I say to Mr. Grandcourt?" "Don't ask me for a reason." "I shall never tell you." "I shall never see Mr. Grandcourt again." "Vingt-huit noir, pair et passe." "You are interested?" "Possibly." "He seems..." "Not like young men in general." "You want me to introduce you?" "Not tonight." "Tomorrow..." "Perhaps." "Fraulein Harleth." "Yes." "This letter arrived this afternoon." "Thank you." "No, no, no." "It's from my mother." "Ah." ""My dearest child, I hardly know how to begin." ""You must return to England at once." ""Your father's old company has collapsed," ""and we are ruined." ""Oh, Gwendolen, when I think that but a few weeks ago" ""we might have been allied" ""to one of the greatest families in England." "But I will not speak of that..."" "No, don't, mamma." "You're wishing to raise money on it to..." "I want to sell it outright." "I'm leaving today and have no plans to return." "Dommage." "No, no, no, it's just a family thing." "Such a nuisance, but there we are." "But to travel alone!" "I insist upon it." "I love to travel alone." "And you are sure you have enough money for the journey?" "Absolutely sure, you are too kind." "I shall miss you so..." "And the gaming tables." "Fraulein Harleth!" "A gentleman left this packet for you a few moments ago." "Thank you." ""A stranger who has found miss Harleth's necklace" ""returns it to her with the hope that you will not again risk the loss of it."" "Faites vos jeux, mesdames, messieurs." "Grandcourt!" "I thought you were at Diplow." "Lush." "Good afternoon, Sir Hugo, Deronda." "What in the world brings you here?" "Same sort of thing as you, I daresay." "But this traveling's a damned, stupid, tedious business." "You're not here for the sake of play, then?" "Some people can't get enough of it." "That gambling beauty of yours, Dan, for one." "Have you seen any more of her?" "She's gone." "A real English beauty." "Harleth..." "was that her name?" "She was here with the Langens." "Ah, the Langens." "But they've gone, you say." "Where?" "The Langens are still here." "Miss Harleth has gone." "It's possible that you know her." "I believe she lives not far from Diplow." "Yes, I know her." "The rooms are ready now, are they?" "Yes, Sir." "So sorry for the delay, Sir." "Then why do you keep us standing here, man?" "Of course, Sir." "This way." "He's come here after her." "He's been on the brink of marrying her, but she shied away." "It's well enough she's gone... no money, no family, and dangerous as gunpowder." "Lush!" "Well, that girl must be worth running after if she can get Grandcourt to exert himself." "I hope he never finds her." "And why is that?" "Would you like to run after her yourself?" "You'd easily cut out Grandcourt." "A girl of her spirit would certainly think you the finer match of the two." "I suppose pedigree and land belong to a fine match." "The best horse will win in spite of pedigree, my boy." "Never mind, mamma, dear." "Things will come right." "I will do something to make things right." "Come now, you must be glad 'cause I am here." "Bless you, my darling." "Of course I am." "So, what is the position, exactly?" "Well, my dear, the first thing we must do..." "Is move away from Offendene." "And where are we to go?" "To Sawyer's cottage." "That is impossible." "I couldn't live in a place like that." "You wouldn't see us go to a sad little place like that, would you, Uncle?" "I shan't submit to it!" "You may not have to, Gwendolen." "I have made inquiries and heard of a very appropriate situation... a bishop's family where there are three daughters." "You would live as one of the family and be paid a hundred a year and all found." "A governess, you mean?" "There could be no hardships in a bishop's family, dear." "Excuse me, mamma, but there are hardships everywhere for a governess." "What an honor!" "To be looked down on and patronized by a bishop's family!" "I have some ornaments, and I could sell them." "They would make a sum." "I'd rather emigrate than be a governess!" "Gwendolen, this is pointless!" "Don't be afraid." "You're safe now." "I heard you singing." "Yes." "Are you in the theater?" "No, I'm not in the theater." "Uh, I'll take you to friends of mine." "They live near by..." "A Lady with daughters." "They're very close." "Here." "I like to listen to the oars." "So do I." "If you had not come," "I should have been dead by now." "I hope you will never be sorry that I came." "I cannot see how I shall be glad to live." "I don't know anyone in this country." "You speak English so perfectly." "I was born in England, but I'm a Jewess." "Do you despise me for it?" "Why should I?" "Many Englishmen do." "I came back to England to find my mother." "I thought God would guide me, but then I despaired." "But now..." "Now I think I was meant to live." "Perhaps I'm going to her." "Daniel!" "What's happened?" "This is miss Lapidoth." "She's had an accident." "She fell into the river, and I thought, as you were near... of course, of course." "Come in, miss Lapidoth." "You're not well, are you?" "Kate, Mab!" "Don't worry, Daniel." "We'll soon have her warm and dry." "Oh, you must be freezing!" "Come sit by the fire." "I hope you don't mind." "It's a dreadful imposition." "After all you've done for Hans?" "Of course I don't." "I thought she'd like it better here." "Lady Mallinger would have been kind, but miss Lapidoth might have found it daunting." "Of course, I'll pay all her expenses." "No, Daniel, we can manage perfectly." "Please." "I insist." "You're too kind to us, Daniel." "Well, I'll leave you to look after her." "May I come again tomorrow and find out how she is?" "Yes, of course." "Good-bye." "The God of our fathers bless you and deliver you from all evil, as you have delivered me." "I didn't believe there was any man so good." "I wanted to consult you, herr Klesmer." "We have lost all our fortune, and I must find a way to make my own living, if I can." "And I thought, if you thought I could, that I should like to be a singer." "I see." "I know I have been badly taught." "And, of course, I should need to study more." "You are, pardon me, you are..." "20 years old?" "Do you think I am too old to begin?" "Yes, of course." "But it is not so much that." "If you are prepared to work very hard, then in four or five years, something might be achieved." "As long as that?" "But, even then..." "You see..." "Forgive me." "You are a beautiful young Lady in polite society." "You're seeking to enter a different world now, where no allowances are made." "People would no longer pretend not to see your blunders." "Have you ever seen a young woman booed off the stage?" "Please understand me." "I don't say you are without talent, not at all." "But talent such as yours is commonplace, an acceptable minimum." "You ask my opinion, here it is." "Even if you work very hard, you must not expect to achieve any more than mediocrity." "I see." "Thank you." "But if you wish to undergo the journey, then I salute you as a fellow artist, and I will do everything I can to help you." "How could you help me?" "I couldn't even afford to take lessons from you." "I would forego the fee for my fiancee's friend." "Catherine is very fond of you, you know." "You're engaged to Catherine Arrowpoint?" "But you're..." "A Jew..." "And a foreigner." "Yes." "Her family aren't happy about it." "But she loves me, you see." "Well?" "Were you satisfied with the interview?" "Satisfied?" "Oh, yes." "Am I not to know anything now, Gwendolen?" "There's really nothing to tell now, mamma." "I had a mistaken idea about something I could do." "Herr Klesmer has undeceived me, that is all." "Don't look and speak to me that way, my dear," "I can't bear it!" "Mamma." "It's useless to cry and waste our strength over what can't be altered." "You will live at Sawyer's cottage, and I am going to the bishop's daughters." "We mustn't give way." "I dread giving way." "You must help me to bear it." "Have you come to see Mirah?" "Yes, how is she?" "Much, much better." "Did you know she was on the stage?" "Sarah." "My mother was called Sarah." "I remember her face." "I was seven when my father took me away." "But, uh, but why should he do that?" "I think he thought he could make money out of me." "And he had quarreled with my mother." "He wanted to hurt her." "How dreadful." "It wasn't so bad, you know." "At first, it was exciting to live in so many places and to be an artist." "My father is a musician, too." "And we went all over..." "New York, Chicago, Hamburg, Vienna." "But, by then, he wasn't playing so much..." "Except in the gaming houses." "He didn't mean to be unkind, but he pushed me too hard, too soon." "You know, I hurt my voice." "I was still too young, and he brought me on too fast." "Then..." "When that didn't work, he..." "He tried to sell me to a rich friend of his..." "A count." "Good God." "I know we should always love our fathers but..." "I ran away from him then and came here..." "To try to find my family." "But I didn't know London was so big." "So stupid of me." "You think I am strange, wanting to find her after all this time?" "Not strange at all." "I never knew my mother." "Would you like to find her?" "Yes, I would." "Then we are alike, after all." "Yes, what is it, damn you?" "Come in or go away." "I can't speak into the garden." "Writing to miss Harleth?" "What's that to you if I am?" "If she accepts you, there's no going back, you know." "Yes, I do know that, Lush." "And?" "You know the family have lost every penny." "And, in point of money, you're strapped for cash yourself until Sir Hugo dies." "It would be..." "It's impossible that you can care much about her." "You'll be encumbering yourself and getting nothing for it." "I know you don't care for her much, Lush, and I know she cares for you even less." "But if you think I give a damn for your feelings, you're most stupendously mistaken." "Have you any idea why she ran away before?" "You have, apparently." "I understand she saw Lydia Glasher in cardell chase and heard the whole story." "And what follows?" "If you propose to her now, and she accepts you, knowing what she knows, is that the sort of woman you, or anyone, would want to marry?" "All right, Lush, that will be all." "Yes, that's the one." "Seeing Grandcourt and Lush had me thinking about Diplow again." "You don't want him to have it." "Nothing I can do about it." "He's the heir." "It'll go to him with the rest when I die, unless I can buy him out now, you see." "I'm thinking it would be the place for Lady Mallinger and the girls when I'm gone." "And, of course, there would always be a home for you there whenever you needed one." "I'm fond of the place." "I grew up there." "And Grandcourt doesn't need it, the money would be far more use to him." "Are you going to make him an offer?" "It's a good offer, but he knows I want it, you see." "Well, there's nothing for it but to go down to Diplow and try him, though I can't stand the sight of the fellow." "I'll go." "Would you?" "I'd be very grateful if you would, Dan." "I know you don't like him any more than I do." "Ah, now, doesn't that pretty gambler that we saw at Leubronn live somewhere nearby?" "You might call on her while you're there, why not?" "Hmm?" ""Mr. Grandcourt presents his compliments" ""to miss Harleth" ""and begs to know whether he may be permitted" ""to call at Offendene tomorrow after 2:00 and to see her alone."" "You don't like Mr. Grandcourt anymore, do you, Gwen?" "Must one endure this?" "!" "Be quiet, Bertha, there's a good dear." "I think it must be answered, darling." "The servant is waiting." "Well, let him wait, mother." "That's what servants are for." "If you don't feel able to decide..." "I must decide." "If Mr. Grandcourt has only just returned from Leubronn..." "I wonder whether he has heard of our misfortune." "That could make no difference to a man in his position." "It would to some men." "No, if Mr. Grandcourt has heard," "I think it a strong proof of his attachment to you." "Very well, mother." "Tell the man that I shall be at home, and if he makes me an offer," "I shall have the pleasure of refusing him." "Your stay on the continent was short." "I was obliged to come home on account of..." "Family troubles." "Yes, I've heard that." "So..." "How does it stand with us now?" "What do you mean?" "I think you know what I mean." "Well, should I put it like this... is there anyone else who stands between us?" "I... am I to understand that someone else is preferred?" "No." "Could I ask you the same question?" "Is there anyone who stands between you and me?" "No." "You need have no concerns on that account." "I don't think you can know how bad our troubles are, though." "We have lost everything." "I am fully aware of your situation." "Oh." "You will allow me to relieve you of any anxiety of that kind." "You are very generous." "I seek to please myself, that's all." "Then you consent to be my wife?" "I... then do you command me to go?" "Hmm?" "No." "You accept me?" "You accept me as your husband?" "Yes." "A letter and a package for you from Diplow." "Oh." "Thank you." "Should you like your breakfast sent up, dear?" "Please." ""Promises to pay a Mrs. Davilow £500."" ""Please do me the honor of wearing this" ""when you come to Diplow today." ""And if you care to look out of the window," ""you'll see something I think will please you." "Treat him well."" "Thank you." "Come on." "I want to see everything." "What's that fellow doing here?" "Mr. Deronda on a matter of business... you did remember he was coming?" "Matter of fact, I didn't." "Afternoon, Deronda." "Miss Gwendolen Harleth, my fiancee." "I understand that you were never introduced at Leubronn." "Miss Harleth hardly remembers me, I imagine." "I remember you very well." "I don't think Mr. Deronda liked my gambling." "He cast an evil eye on me." "I began to lose as soon as he came to look on." "Roulette's a bore and so is Leubronn." "I certainly found it a bore when I began to lose." "You care for play yourself, Deronda?" "No." "And I don't like to see what it does to those who do play." "That so?" "Let's go in, shall we?" "You go ahead." "I want to speak to Mr. Deronda, not you." "Lush." "I want to know why you object to my gambling." "I have no right to object to anything you do." "But you despise me for gambling." "You do, don't you?" "You as good as said so just now." "No, I don't despise you." "What, then?" "What do you think of me?" "At Leubronn, I thought it was a shame you should lose." "And so you thought you had a right to interfere." "Why?" "I didn't like to see you lose, and..." "Even if you had won, there's something revolting about seeking to gain from someone else's losses." "But that's how things are." "You can't always help it, can you, when you gain from another's loss?" "But you should help it when you can, don't you think?" "I think one must gamble." "I mean, it's all a gamble, everything..." "life." "I wish..." "What?" "No." "It's impossible." "Things happen, and they can't be changed." "But I wish that we could know each other better." "That might not be very easy now." "Oh, don't say that." "Surely, we could be friends, not enemies, at least." "No, certainly not that." "Thank you." "Deronda." "I understand you have some sort of business proposition." "Sir Hugo was thinking of the situation of Lady Mallinger and his daughters after his death, and he thought you might wish to realize your capital on Diplow now." ""Realize my capital."" "What a quaint phrase." "Sell my birthright, I suppose you mean." "This is the house I will inherit, Deronda, do you understand?" "I am Sir Hugo's heir, not you." "Sir Hugo is prepared to go as high as 45,000, but no higher." "It's a very good offer." "Well." "Deronda, I don't discuss money with..." "You can talk to Lush." "My business is with you, not Mr. Lush." "Do you think this gives me any pleasure?" "No, I don't suppose it does." "Then, may I have your answer?" "Not ready to give it." "My dear?" "Mamma." "Hmm?" "How common is it for men to father children before they are married?" "Well, of course, it sometimes happens." "But why should you think about that now?" "Mr. Deronda was at Diplow today." "Apparently, he won't inherit anything at all when Sir Hugo dies." "It does seem unfair." "Well, life is unfair." "But if Mr. Deronda is Sir Hugo's son, as everyone understands he is, then I'm sure he'll do something for him." "It isn't wrong, is it?" "To want to be rich and have nice things?" "Of course not, darling." "Even if..." "Others should suffer for it?" "We can't look out for everyone in the world, can we?" "No, I suppose not." "Mamma, is it very unpleasant being married?" "Not if you love your husband, and he loves you, dear." "I'm not quite sure I know what love is." "Your father made me very happy, Gwen." "And captain Davilow was not a bad man, all considered." "Mr. Grandcourt seems very gentle and considerate." "Yes." "Yes, he is." "He does everything I tell him to." "My wish is his command." "There, then." "You're a very lucky girl." "Yes, I suppose I am." "But, then, I deserve the best of everything, don't I?" "Yes, you do." "Bravo!" "That was absolutely lovely." "Isn't she wonderful?" "I think she's the best singer in the world!" "Oh, come, please!" "She should go on the stage where everyone could hear her." "Nobody wanted me, Kate." "But isn't that just a matter of knowing the right people?" "Couldn't you help her, Daniel?" "Is that what you would like?" "Yes." "If I could." "I must start to earn my living again." "Then let me see what I can do." "No, I couldn't ask you that... it would be a pleasure." "No trouble at all." "Will you sing something else for us now?" "Oh, yes." "Yes, if you like." "This is a song my mother used to sing." "No, I'm..." "I'm sorry." "That one's not a good choice." "Come and sit down, please." "We've tired you out." "Thank you." "Why don't you play something?" "Think she's all right?" "It's just that I don't know if my mother is still alive or my brother." "Their name is Lapidoth?" "No, Cohen." "Sarah Cohen and Ezra Cohen." "My father changed our name when we were in America." "How much do you remember of them?" "Nothing that would help me find them again." "But I do remember when I was a little girl, my mother would take me to the synagogue, and she would help me to read and explain things to me." "And I remember feeling very warm and safe there, and it comforts me." "Do you remember your mother?" "Not at all." "I've always had an image of someone very pure and sweet, and I think of her as being hurt by life, and I've imagined helping her, saving her." "But what if she should turn out to be quite different?" "Sometimes, I think it would be better if I never found out the truth." "No, you would love her whatever she was like, and she would love you, I know she would." "And you, you'd want to find your family, whatever they were like?" "Of course." "I could never turn my back on my family or my religion." "I wonder if I should make some inquiries, but..." "What if the brother should turn out to be like the father?" "And is the mother even..." "I know." "I know." "You're fearful of what you might find." "And she's such a dear girl, Dan." "Come on now!" "Bring it down!" "Oh, Daniel, there you are." "We were expecting you home earlier." "Hi, Daniel." "Where've you been?" "I called at the Meyrick's on my way home." "And how is your little Jewess?" "She's better and better every day." "I hope that you'll meet her yourself before too long." "Were you thinking of inviting her here, Daniel?" "Would you object?" "Well, isn't she some sort of..." "Professional entertainer?" "She's a very remarkable young woman, and she's quite fit to be received anywhere!" "I'm quite sure she is if you say so, Daniel." "Now go and see Sir Hugo." "He's waiting for you in the library." "Come and play with us after, Daniel." "It's past your bedtime now." "I think Grandcourt will come 'round in the end." "He's a tricky fish to play, though." "So tell me, did you see miss Harleth?" "Yes." "She and Grandcourt are engaged to be married." "Are they, be gad?" "He didn't waste much time, then." "I don't like to see them together." "I hope you didn't flirt with her too much, Dan." "If you make Grandcourt savage, it'll make this Diplow business all the harder to pull off." "I don't think you've ever seen me flirt." "Oh, haven't I, though?" "You're always looking tenderly at the women and getting them to tell you their troubles." "And then you pretend to be surprised when they come running after you." "Even if that were true, which it isn't..." "I don't think there's much chance of it with miss Harleth." "There, you see, I shall always beat you." "Only because you gave me Criterion." "But I shall always let you have whatever you like." "Shall you?" "And nothing that I don't like?" "Because I think I dislike what I don't like more than I like what I like." "And what don't you like?" "I don't like your friend Mr. Lush." "I'll get rid of him, then." "You don't mind?" "Whatever makes you happy." "No, no." "I don't feel like that just now." "Well, I can wait." "So..." "I'm to cut and run, am I?" "To please your Lady love?" "Are you so much in thrall to her?" "I'm no more in love with her than I imagine she is with me." "That's not what it's about, Lush." "What is it about, then?" "The pleasure of mastering a woman who thinks she can master me." "And who could master any other man but me, I daresay." "Perhaps she's mastered you already." "Don't worry, Lush." "I shan't cast you off..." "Entirely." "Just so long as you're out of her sight." "Ah." "I see." "It's like schooling a horse, you see." "They don't like it." "They don't want to kneel and submit, don't feel natural." "You have to jolly them along a bit..." "Just at first." "You can look after things in town and then creep back by and by." "When she's learned to kiss the rod." "That's right." "Would you like me to go to Gadsmere and break the news to Mrs. Glasher?" "No." "No, I'll do that myself." "It's him." "Who, my love?" "You know." "You didn't say he was coming." "I wasn't sure that he would." "You will be good, won't you, henleigh?" "You know we depend on him for everything." "Hmm?" "Promise?" "All right." "Mr. Grandcourt, ma'am." "Good." "Ah." "It might be as well if the children were sent out." "Yes." "Go and play in the garden." "Go on." "It's still warm outside." "Go and see if there are any new ducks on the pond." "I came to tell you" "I am to be married to miss Harleth." "No." "You've met her, I understand." "Don't make this more disagreeable than it need be, Lydia." "You and the children will be provided for as usual." "You care nothing for me and the children." "That's not quite true." "Why don't you go?" "I can see that you're sick of us." "You want to get away and be with your miss Harleth." "Don't say things you'll repent of, Lydia." "What friend have you besides me?" "There is one more thing." "My diamonds." "I want to make an arrangement for them to be delivered to someone." "I'm sorry." "I never expected you would ever ask for them." "I'm sorry." "I can see this must be a bore for you." "I could take them now, or shall I arrange for Lush to collect them?" "I will make the arrangement." "They will be delivered to her safely." "No, that doesn't suit me." "Please, allow me this one request!" "If you!" "If you present yourself again and make a scene..." "I will never forgive you." "Do you understand?" "Perfectly." "Good." "Then, tell me, where will you be going after your wedding?" "To Ryelands." "Thank you." "The diamonds will be delivered there." "Don't be angry." "Come..." "Smoke your cigar." ""These diamonds, which were given with ardent love to me," ""I now pass on to you." ""The man you have married has a withered heart." "You will have your punishment.""