something more
than we were aware of. Hans must be excused for these promptings of
bruised sensibility, since he had not allowed them to govern his
substantial conduct: he had the consciousness of having done right by
his fortunate friend; or, as he told himself, "his metal had given a
better ring than he would have sworn to beforehand." For Hans had
always said that in point of virtue he was a _dilettante_: which meant
that he was very fond of it in other people, but if he meddled with it
himself he cut a poor figure. Perhaps in reward of his good behavior he
gave his tongue the more freedom; and he was too fully possessed by the
notion of Deronda's happiness to have a conception of what he was
feeling about Gwendolen, so that he spoke of her without hesitation.

"When did you come down, Hans?" said Deronda, joining him in the
grounds where he was making a study of the requisite bank and trees.

"Oh, ten days ago; before the time Sir Hugo fixed. I ran down with Rex
Gascoigne and stayed at the rectory a day or two. I'm up in all the
gossip of these parts; I know the state of the wheelwright's interior,
and have assisted at an infant school examination. Sister Anna, with
the good upper lip, escorted me, else I should have been mobbed by
three urchins and an idiot, because of my long hair and a general
appearance which departs from the Pennicote type of the beautiful.
Altogether, the village is idyllic. Its only fault is a dark curate
with broad shoulders and broad trousers who ought to have gone into the
heavy drapery line. The Gascoignes are perfect--besides being related
to the Vandyke duchess. I caught a glimpse of her in her black robes at
a distance, though she doesn't show to visitors."

"She was not staying at the rectory?" said Deronda.

"No; but I was taken to Offendene to see the old house, and as a
consequence I saw the duchess' family. I suppose you have been there
and know all about them?"

"Yes, I have been there," said Deronda, quietly.

"A fine old place. An excellent setting for a widow with romantic
fortunes. And she seems to have had several romances. I think I have
found out that there was one between her and my friend Rex."

"Not long before her marriage, then?" said Deronda, really interested,
"for they had only been a year at Offendene. How came you to know
anything of it?"

"Oh--not ignorant of what it is to be a miserable devil, I learn to
gloat on the signs of misery in others. I found