Daniel Deronda George Eliot (best book clubs TXT) đ
- Author: George Eliot
Book online «Daniel Deronda George Eliot (best book clubs TXT) đ». Author George Eliot
âMineâs the best,â said Jacob, at last, returning Derondaâs knife as if he had been entertaining the idea of exchange and had rejected it.
Father and mother laughed aloud with delight. âYou wonât find Jacob choosing the worst,â said Mr. Cohen, winking, with much confidence in the customerâs admiration. Deronda, looking at the grandmother, who had only an inward silent laugh, said,
âAre these the only grandchildren you have?â
âAll. This is my only son,â she answered in a communicative tone, Derondaâs glance and manner as usual conveying the impression of sympathetic interestâ âwhich on this occasion answered his purpose well. It seemed to come naturally enough that he should say,
âAnd you have no daughter?â
There was an instantaneous change in the motherâs face. Her lips closed more firmly, she looked down, swept her hands outward on the counter, and finally turned her back on Deronda to examine some Indian handkerchiefs that hung in pawn behind her. Her son gave a significant glance, set up his shoulders an instant and just put his fingers to his lipsâ âthen said quickly, âI think youâre a first-rate gentleman in the city, sir, if I may be allowed to guess.â
âNo,â said Deronda, with a preoccupied air, âI have nothing to do with the city.â
âThatâs a bad job. I thought you might be the young principal of a first-rate firm,â said Mr. Cohen, wishing to make amends for the check on his customerâs natural desire to know more of him and his. âBut you understand silver-work, I see.â
âA little,â said Deronda, taking up the clasps a moment and laying them down again. That unwelcome bit of circumstantial evidence had made his mind busy with a plan which was certainly more like acting than anything he had been aware of in his own conduct before. But the bare possibility that more knowledge might nullify the evidence now overpowered the inclination to rest in uncertainty.
âTo tell you the truth,â he went on, âmy errand is not so much to buy as to borrow. I dare say you go into rather heavy transactions occasionally.â
âWell, sir, Iâve accommodated gentlemen of distinctionâ âIâm proud to say it. I wouldnât exchange my business with any in the world. Thereâs none more honorable, nor more charitable, nor more necessary for all classes, from the good lady who wants a little of the ready for the baker, to a gentleman like yourself, sir, who may want it for amusement. I like my business, I like my street, and I like my shop. I wouldnât have it a door further down. And I wouldnât be without a pawnshop, sir, to be the Lord Mayor. It puts you in connection with the world at large. I say itâs like the government revenueâ âit embraces the brass as well as the gold of the country. And a man who doesnât get money, sir, canât accommodate. Now, what can I do for you, sir?â
If an amiable self-satisfaction is the mark of earthly bliss, Solomon in all his glory was a pitiable mortal compared with Mr. Cohenâ âclearly one of those persons, who, being in excellent spirits about themselves, are willing to cheer strangers by letting them know it. While he was delivering himself with lively rapidity, he took the baby from his wife and holding it on his arm presented his features to be explored by its small fists. Deronda, not in a cheerful mood, was rashly pronouncing this Ezra Cohen to be the most unpoetic Jew he had ever met with in books or life: his phraseology was as little as possible like that of the Old Testament: and no shadow of a suffering race distinguished his vulgarity of soul from that of a prosperous, pink-and-white huckster of the purest English lineage. It is naturally a Christian feeling that a Jew ought not to be conceited. However, this was no reason for not persevering in his project, and he answered at once in adventurous ignorance of technicalities,
âI have a fine diamond ring to offer as securityâ ânot with me at this moment, unfortunately, for I am not in the habit of wearing it. But I will come again this evening and bring it with me. Fifty pounds at once would be a convenience to me.â
âWell, you know, this evening is the Sabbath, young gentleman,â said Cohen, âand I go to the Shool. The shop will be closed. But accommodation is a work of charity; if you canât get here before, and are any ways pressedâ âwhy, Iâll look at your diamond. Youâre perhaps from the West Endâ âa longish drive?â
âYes; and your Sabbath begins early at this season. I could be here by fiveâ âwill that do?â Deronda had not been without hope that by asking to come on a Friday evening he might get a better opportunity of observing points in the family character, and might even be able to put some decisive question.
Cohen assented; but here the marvelous Jacob, whose physique supported a precocity that would have shattered a Gentile of his years, showed that he had been listening with much comprehension by saying, âYou are coming again. Have you got any more knives at home?â
âI think I have one,â said Deronda, smiling down at him.
âHas it two blades and a hookâ âand a white handle like that?â said Jacob, pointing to the waistcoat-pocket.
âI dare say it has.â
âDo you like a corkscrew?â said Jacob, exhibiting that article in his own knife again, and looking up with serious inquiry.
âYes,â said Deronda, experimentally.
âBring your knife, then, and weâll shwop,â said Jacob, returning the knife to his pocket, and stamping about with the sense that he had concluded a good transaction.
The grandmother had now recovered her usual manners, and the whole family watched Deronda radiantly when he caressingly lifted the little girl, to whom he had not hitherto given attention, and seating her on the counter, asked for her name also. She looked at him in silence, and put her fingers to her gold earrings, which he did
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