"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."

"Is Klesmer a severe man?"
"He is peculiar, but I do not know if you would call him severe. He is kind in action, if not in speech."
"I have been used to be frowned at and not praised," said Mirah.
"Klesmer frowns a good deal," said Deronda, "but with a sort of smile in his eyes, if you can catch it."
