Daniel Deronda

Grandcourt continues to pursue Gwendolen over the next two weeks, arranging frequent meetings and ensuring she is always aware of his attention. At a party he hosts at Diplow, he openly favors her over Catherine, making it clear to their social circle that he intends to marry her. Mr. Gascoigne and Mrs. Davilow both assume a proposal is imminent, but Grandcourt himself is surprised that he has not yet made his intentions explicit. Each day, he plans to speak, but by the evening, he still has not done so. He never doubts that she will accept, but something holds him back.

One day, Grandcourt arranges a riding excursion, sending a fine horse for Gwendolen while Mrs. Davilow follows in the carriage. The countryside is peaceful, but Mrs. Davilow remains anxious, hoping her daughter will choose wisely. As Gwendolen and Grandcourt ride ahead, pausing occasionally to talk, Mrs. Davilow wonders if this will be the day he proposes. She knows that Grandcourt offers everything Gwendolen values—wealth, comfort, and status—but she cannot tell if her daughter truly wants to marry him.

Gwendolen enjoys the ride but remains controlled. Grandcourt, as usual, speaks little, but his words always seem to carry weight. When he asks how she likes the horse, she enthusiastically praises it and jokingly suggests taking a jump. Grandcourt immediately offers to join her, but she hesitates and declines, saying it would frighten her mother. He presses her to reconsider, but she insists it is best not to.

After a pause, Grandcourt tells Gwendolen that he would like to always have the right to take care of her. The remark unsettles her, and she hesitates before responding lightly that she does not necessarily want to be taken care of. She avoids looking at him directly, feeling that she might be pushing him too far. Irritated by her evasiveness, Grandcourt decides he will not make an offer in a way that allows her to reject him. He believes she has already accepted him by allowing his attentions and that if she pushes him away now, it will reflect poorly on her.

They arrive at Diplow, where a number of guests are gathered. Gwendolen enjoys the attention but feels that Grandcourt remains unreadable. If he was offended by her earlier response, he does not show it, but she is beginning to realize that his calm manner gives little indication of what he is thinking. After lunch, the group explores the grounds, with Grandcourt staying close to her. Eventually, as the group pauses by a pond, Grandcourt quietly suggests they walk up a hill. Gwendolen agrees, both curious and apprehensive. At the top, he looks around and casually remarks that there is nothing to see. She remains silent, gripping her riding whip. He then asks what kind of places she likes, and she responds that she prefers open, cheerful surroundings. He notes that Offendene is too somber, to which she replies that Mrs. Davilow wishes to stay in the area.

Grandcourt brings the conversation to the topic of marriage, though he speaks in a circuitous manner, as he tries to determine whether Gwendolen truly wants to marry him. Gwendolen’s responses are ambiguous, never fully giving anything away. Ultimately, the conversation ends in a stalemate, with Grandcourt no closer to knowing whether Gwendolen is interested in him. At the moment, it just feels like she is playing games.

Later, while returning home, Gwendolen thinks about the archery meeting scheduled for the following day. She knows that she will not be able to play with Grandcourt much longer and feels torn about whether she should accept his imminent proposal. She has always believed in doing as she pleases, but now she is uncertain. The idea of marrying Grandcourt is more appealing than she had expected. The wealth, status, and freedom to do as she likes all seem within reach. Grandcourt himself is not a drawback, as his quiet demeanor means he is unlikely to interfere with her choices. Yet she also feels strangely restrained around him. Unlike other men, he does not inspire her usual confidence, and she is less in control of the situation than she would like to be.

On the drive home, Mrs. Davilow watches Gwendolen closely, noticing her distracted manner and changing expressions. Finally, she asks if something has happened. Gwendolen remains silent at first but eventually admits that she is uncertain about her own feelings. When her mother asks if she has given Grandcourt an answer, she says she has not, but she has not exactly discouraged him either. Relieved, Mrs. Davilow suggests that Gwendolen seems to like him. Gwendolen gives an ambiguous reply, stating that he has all the qualities that would make a husband tolerable—wealth, status, and a dignified appearance.

When they return home, Gwendolen skips dinner and rests, while Mrs. Davilow gives Mr. Gascoigne a brief account of her conversation with Grandcourt. Mr. Gascoigne feels obliged to intervene, but Mrs. Davilow advises against it. Later, he speaks with Gwendolen, who admits she avoided Grandcourt’s likely proposal but offers no real reason. He warns that rejecting such an opportunity would be foolish, and if she has lost his interest, it is her own fault. Shaken, Gwendolen finally states that she will accept if he proposes. Meanwhile, Mr. Lush travels to Wanchester to meet a woman with two children (for the time, their identities remain a secret). After speaking with her for an hour, he confidently predicts that Gwendolen and Grandcourt’s marriage will never happen.