one's self out of the question, and another to
endure that others should perform that exclusion for us. He had
expected that Hans would give him trouble: what he had not expected was
that the trouble would have a strong element of personal feeling. And
he was rather ashamed that Hans's hopes caused him uneasiness in spite
of his well-warranted conviction that they would never be fulfilled.
They had raised an image of Mirah changing; and however he might
protest that the change would not happen, the protest kept up the
unpleasant image. Altogether poor Hans seemed to be entering into
Deronda's experience in a disproportionate manner--going beyond his
part of rescued prodigal, and rousing a feeling quite distinct from
compassionate affection.

When Deronda went to Chelsea he was not made as comfortable as he ought
to have been by Mrs. Meyrick's evident release from anxiety about the
beloved but incalculable son. Mirah seemed livelier than before, and
for the first time he saw her laugh. It was when they were talking of
Hans, he being naturally the mother's first topic. Mirah wished to know
if Deronda had seen Mr. Hans going through a sort of character piece
without changing his dress.

"He passes from one figure to another as if he were a bit of flame
where you fancied the figures without seeing them," said Mirah, full of
her subject; "he is so wonderfully quick. I used never to like comic
things on the stage--they were dwelt on too long; but all in one minute
Mr. Hans makes himself a blind bard, and then Rienzi addressing the
Romans, and then an opera-dancer, and then a desponding young
gentleman--I am sorry for them all, and yet I laugh, all in one"--here
Mirah gave a little laugh that might have entered into a song.

"We hardly thought that Mirah could laugh till Hans came," said Mrs.
Meyrick, seeing that Deronda, like herself, was observing the pretty
picture.

"Hans seems in great force just now," said Deronda in a tone of
congratulation. "I don't wonder at his enlivening you."

"He's been just perfect ever since he came back," said Mrs. Meyrick,
keeping to herself the next clause--"if it will but last."

"It is a great happiness," said Mirah, "to see the son and brother come
into this dear home. And I hear them all talk about what they did
together when they were little. That seems like heaven, and to have a
mother and brother who talk in that way. I have never had it."

"Nor I," said Deronda, involuntarily