surprised as Deronda -
neither in his surprise making any sign of recognition. But when Mordecai was
seating himself at the end of the table, he just bent his head to the guest in a
cold and distant manner, as if the disappointment of the morning remained a
disagreeable association with this new acquaintance.
    Cohen now washed his hands, pronouncing Hebrew words the while: afterwards,
he took off the napkin covering the dish and disclosed the two long flat loaves
besprinkled with seed - the memorial of the manna that fed the wandering
forefathers - and breaking off small pieces gave one to each of the family,
including Adelaide Rebekah, who stood on the chair with her whole length
exhibited in her amber-coloured garment, her little Jewish nose lengthened by
compression of the lip in the effort to make a suitable appearance. Cohen then
uttered another Hebrew blessing, and after that, the male heads were uncovered,
all seated themselves, and the meal went on without any peculiarity that
interested Deronda. He was not very conscious of what dishes he ate from, being
preoccupied with a desire to turn the conversation in a way that would enable
him to ask some leading question; and also with thinking of Mordecai, between
whom and himself there was an exchange of fascinated, half-furtive glances.
Mordecai had no handsome Sabbath garment, but instead of the threadbare rusty
black coat of the morning he wore one of light drab, which looked as if it had
once been a handsome loose paletot now shrunk with washing; and this change of
clothing gave a still stronger accentuation to his dark-haired, eager face,
which might have belonged to the prophet Ezekiel - also probably not modish in
the eyes of contemporaries. It was noticeable that the thin tails of the fried
fish were given to Mordecai; and in general the sort of share assigned to a poor
relation - no doubt a »survival« of prehistoric practice, not yet generally
admitted to be superstitious.
    Mr. Cohen kept up the conversation with much liveliness, introducing as
subjects always in taste (the Jew is proud of his loyalty) the Queen and the
Royal Family, the Emperor and Empress of the French - into which both
grandmother and wife entered with zest. Mrs. Cohen the younger showed an
accurate memory of distinguished birthdays; and the elder assisted her son in
informing the guest of what occurred when the Emperor and Empress were in
England and visited the city, ten years before.
    »I daresay you know all about it better than we do, sir,« said Cohen,
repeatedly, by way of preface to full information; and the interesting
statements were