ransmission
must go on without any choice of ours; but what we can't hinder must
not make our rule for what we ought to choose. I think our duty is
faithful tradition where we can attain it. And so you would insist for
any one but yourself. Don't ask me to deny my spiritual parentage, when
I am finding the clue of my life in the recognition of natural
parentage."

"I will ask for no promise till you see the reason," said Mordecai.
"You have said the truth: I would obey the Master's rule for another.
But for years my hope, nay, my confidence, has been, not that the
imperfect image of my thought, which is an ill-shaped work of the
youthful carver who has seen a heavenly pattern, and trembles in
imitating the vision--not that this should live, but that my vision and
passion should enter into yours--yea, into yours; for he whom I longed
for afar, was he not you whom I discerned as mine when you came near?
Nevertheless, you shall judge. For my soul is satisfied." Mordecai
paused, and then began in a changed tone, reverting to previous
suggestions from Deronda's disclosure: "What moved your parents----?"
but he immediately checked himself, and added, "Nay, I ask not that you
should tell me aught concerning others, unless it is your pleasure."

"Some time--gradually--you will know all," said Deronda. "But now tell
me more about yourselves, and how the time has passed since I went
away. I am sure there has been some trouble. Mirah has been in distress
about something."

He looked at Mirah, but she immediately turned to her brother,
appealing to him to give the difficult answer. She hoped he would not
think it necessary to tell Deronda the facts about her father on such
an evening as this. Just when Deronda had brought himself so near, and
identified himself with her brother, it was cutting to her that he
should hear of this disgrace clinging about them, which seemed to have
become partly his. To relieve herself she rose to take up her hat and
cloak, thinking she would go to her own room: perhaps they would speak
more easily when she had left them. But meanwhile Mordecai said--

"To-day there has been a grief. A duty which seemed to have gone far
into the distance, has come back and turned its face upon us, and
raised no gladness--has raised a dread that we must submit to. But for
the moment we are delivered from any visible yoke. Let us defer
speaking of it as if this evening which is deepening about us were the
beginning