"You would remind me that I may be under an illusion--that the history of our people's trust has been full of illusion. I face it all." Here Mordecai paused a moment. Then bending his head a little forward, he said, in his hoarse whisper, "_So it might be with my trust, if you would make it an illusion. But you will not._"
The very sharpness with which these words penetrated Deronda made him feel the more that here was a crisis in which he must be firm.

"You would remind me that I may be under an illusion - that the history of our people's trust has been full of illusion. I face it all." Here Mordecai paused a moment. Then bending forward, he said, in his hoarse whisper, "So it might be with my trust, if you would make it an illusion. But you will not."
The very sharpness of these words persuaded Deronda that here he must be firm.
