Page:Eliot - Daniel Deronda, vol. II, 1876.djvu/208

 he has sent it," she added, nodding at her mamma.

"Why?"

"He would rather make me put it on, than ask me to let him do it. Aha! he is very proud. But so am I. We shall match each other. I should hate a man who went down on his knees, and came fawning on me. He really is not disgusting."

"That is very moderate praise, Gwen."

"No, it is not, for a man," said Gwendolen, gaily. "But now I must get up and dress. Will you come and do my hair, mamma dear," she went on, drawing down her mamma's face to caress it with her own cheeks, " and not be so naughty any more as to talk of living in poverty? You must bear to be made comfortable, even if you don't like it. And Mr Grandcourt behaves perfectly, now, does he not?"

"Certainly he does," said Mrs Davilow, encouraged, and persuaded that after all Gwendolen was fond of her betrothed. She herself thought him a man whose attentions were likely to tell on a girl's feeling. Suitors must often be judged as words are, by the standing and the figure they make in polite society: it is difficult to know much else of them. And all the mother's anxiety