Oh yes,« said Gwendolen, »if it were only to make others believe in him.«
She paused a moment and then said with more gaiety, »When Herr Klesmer admires
his own genius, it will take off some of the absurdity if his wife says Amen.«
    »Klesmer is no favourite of yours, I see,« said Sir Hugo.
    »I think very highly of him, I assure you,« said Gwendolen. »His genius is
quite above my judgment, and I know him to be exceedingly generous.«
    She spoke with the sudden seriousness which is often meant to correct an
unfair or indiscreet sally, having a bitterness against Klesmer in her secret
soul which she knew herself unable to justify. Deronda was wondering what he
should have thought of her if he had never heard of her before: probably that
she put on a little hardness and defiance by way of concealing some painful
consciousness - if, indeed, he could imagine her manners otherwise than in the
light of his suspicion. But why did she not recognise him with more
friendliness?
    Sir Hugo, by way of changing the subject, said to her, »Is not this a
beautiful room? It was part of the refectory of the Abbey. There was a division
made by those pillars and the three arches, and afterwards they were built up.
Else it was half as large again originally. There used to be rows of
Benedictines sitting where we are sitting. Suppose we were suddenly to see the
lights burning low and the ghosts of the old monks rising behind all our
chairs!«
    »Please don't!« said Gwendolen, with a playful shudder. »It is very nice to
come after ancestors and monks, but they should know their places and keep
underground. I should be rather frightened to go about this house all alone. I
suppose the old generations must be angry with us because we have altered things
so much.«
    »Oh, the ghosts must be of all political parties,« said Sir Hugo. »And those
fellows who wanted to change things while they lived and couldn't do it must be
on our side. But if you would not like to go over the house alone, you will like
to go in company, I hope. You and Grandcourt ought to see it all. And we will
ask Deronda to go round with us. He is more learned about it than I am.« The
baronet was in the most complaisant of humours.
    Gwendolen stole a glance at Deronda, who must have heard what Sir Hugo said,
for he had his
