"I beseech you to tell me what moved you--when you were young, I mean--to take the course you did," said Deronda, trying by this reference to the past to escape from what to him was the heart-rending piteousness of this mingled suffering and defiance. 
"Please tell me what moved you to take the course you did," said Deronda, trying to escape the heart-rending piteousness of this suffering and defiance. 