 you like. You are in deeper water with
your classics than I ever got into, and if you are rather sick of that swimming,
Cambridge is the place where you can go into mathematics with a will, and
disport yourself on the dry sand as much as you like. I floundered along like a
carp.«
    »I suppose money will make some difference, sir,« said Daniel, blushing. »I
shall have to keep myself by-and-by.«
    »Not exactly. I recommend you not to be extravagant - yes, yes, I know - you
are not inclined, to that; - but you need not take up anything against the
grain. You will have a bachelor's income - enough for you to look about with.
Perhaps I had better tell you that you may consider yourself secure of seven
hundred a-year. You might make yourself a barrister - be a writer - take up
politics. I confess that is what would please me best. I should like to have you
at my elbow and pulling with me.«
    Deronda looked embarrassed. He felt that he ought to make some sign of
gratitude, but other feelings clogged his tongue. A moment was passing by in
which a question about his birth was throbbing within him, and yet it seemed
more impossible than ever that the question should find vent - more impossible
than ever that he could hear certain things from Sir Hugo's lips. The liberal
way in which he was dealt with was the more striking because the baronet had of
late cared particularly for money, and for making the utmost of his
life-interest in the estate by way of providing for his daughters; and as all
this flashed through Daniel's mind it was momentarily within his imagination
that the provision for him might come in some way from his mother. But such
vaporous conjecture passed away as quickly as it came.
    Sir Hugo appeared not to notice anything peculiar in Daniel's manner, and
presently went on with his usual chatty liveliness.
    »I am glad you have done some good reading outside your classics, and have
got a grip of French and German. The truth is, unless a man can get the prestige
and income of a Don and write donnish books, it's hardly worth while for him to
make a Greek and Latin machine of himself and be able to spin you out pages of
the Greek dramatists at any verse you'll give him as a cue. That's all very
fine, but in practical life nobody does give you the cue for pages of Greek. In
