 - often more really with me.«
    Deronda, inwardly wincing under this illustration, which brought other
possible realities about that mother vividly before him, presently turned the
conversation by saying, »But we must not get too far away from practical
matters. I came, for one thing, to tell of an interview I had yesterday, which I
hope Mirah will find to have been useful to her. It was with Klesmer, the great
pianist.«
    »Ah?« said Mrs. Meyrick, with satisfaction. »You think he will help her?«
    »I hope so. He is very much occupied, but has promised to fix a time for
receiving and hearing Miss Lapidoth, as we must learn to call her« -- here
Deronda smiled at Mirah -- »if she consents to go to him.«
    »I shall be very grateful,« said Mirah, calmly. »He wants to hear me sing,
before he can judge whether I ought to be helped.«
    Deronda was struck with her plain sense about these matters of practical
concern.
    »It will not be at all trying to you, I hope, if Mrs. Meyrick will kindly go
with you to Klesmer's house.«
    »Oh no, not at all trying. I have been doing that all my life - I mean, told
to do things that others may judge of me. And I have gone through a bad trial of
that sort. I am prepared to bear it, and do some very small thing. Is Klesmer a
severe man?«
    »He is peculiar, but I have not had experience enough of him to know whether
he would be what you would call severe. I know he is kind-hearted - kind in
action, if not in speech.«
    »I have been used to be frowned at and not praised,« said Mirah.
    »By the by, Klesmer frowns a good deal,« said Deronda, »but there is often a
sort of smile in his eyes all the while. Unhappily he wears spectacles, so you
must catch him in the right light to see the smile.«
    »I shall not be frightened,« said Mirah. »If he were like a roaring lion, he
only wants me to sing. I shall do what I can.«
    »Then I feel sure you will not mind being invited to sing in Lady
Mallinger's drawing-room,« said Deronda. »She intends to ask you next month, and
will invite many ladies to hear you, who are likely to want lessons from
