spoil the important opening of that work which was to
secure her independence, as we rather arbitrarily call one of the more
arduous and dignified forms of our dependence. And both Mrs. Meyrick
and Deronda had more reasons than they could have expressed for
desiring that Mirah should be able to maintain herself. Perhaps "the
little mother" was rather helped in her secrecy by some dubiousness in
her sentiment about the remarkable brother described to her; and
certainly if she felt any joy and anticipatory admiration, it was due
to her faith in Deronda's judgment. The consumption was a sorrowful
fact that appealed to her tenderness; but how was she to be very glad
of an enthusiasm which, to tell the truth, she could only contemplate
as Jewish pertinacity, and as rather an undesirable introduction among
them all of a man whose conversation would not be more modern and
encouraging than that of Scott's Covenanters? Her mind was anything but
prosaic, and had her soberer share of Mab's delight in the romance of
Mirah's story and of her abode with them; but the romantic or unusual
in real life requires some adaptation. We sit up at night to read about
Sakya-Mouni, St. Francis, or Oliver Cromwell; but whether we should be
glad for any one at all like them to call on us the next morning, still
more, to reveal himself as a new relation, is quite another affair.
Besides, Mrs. Meyrick had hoped, as her children did, that the
intensity of Mirah's feeling about Judaism would slowly subside, and be
merged in the gradually deepening current of loving interchange with
her new friends. In fact, her secret favorite continuation of the
romance had been no discovery of Jewish relations, but something much
more favorable to the hopes she discerned in Hans. And now--here was a
brother who would dip Mirah's mind over again in the deepest dye of
Jewish sentiment. She could not help saying to Deronda--

"I am as glad as you are that the pawnbroker is not her brother: there
are Ezras and Ezras in the world; and really it is a comfort to think
that all Jews are not like those shopkeepers who _will not_ let you get
out of their shops: and besides, what he said to you about his mother
and sister makes me bless him. I am sure he's good. But I never did
like anything fanatical. I suppose I heard a little too much preaching
in my youth and lost my palate for it."

"I don't think you will find that Mordecai obtrudes any preaching,"
said Deronda. "He is