Page:Eliot - Daniel Deronda, vol. IV, 1876.djvu/85

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BOOK VII.—THE MOTHER AND THE SON.
77

like Gwendolen. I should have thought some one younger and more lively would have suited her better. But, perhaps, having a brother who seems to us better than any one makes us think worse of others."

"Wait till you see Mr Deronda," said Mab, nodding significantly. "Nobody's brother will do after him."

"Our brothers must do for people's husbands," said Kate, curtly, "because they will not get Mr Deronda. No woman will do for him to marry."

"No woman ought to want him to marry him," said Mab, with indignation. "I never should. Fancy finding out that he had a tailor's bill, and used boot-hooks, like Hans. Who ever thought of his marrying?"

"I have," said Kate. "When I drew a wedding for a frontispiece to 'Hearts and Diamonds,' I made a sort of likeness of him for the bridegroom, and I went about looking for a grand woman who would do for his countess, but I saw none that would not be poor creatures by the side of him."

"You should have seen this Mrs Grandcourt then," said Mrs Meyrick. "Hans says that she and Mr Deronda set each other off when they are side by side. She is tall and fair. But you know her,