Middlemarch

Fred takes Bulstrode's "required testimony" (185) to Featherstone. The letter satisfies Featherstone, who gives £100 to Fred. Though he is "very much obliged" (188), Fred had hoped for more. He needs to pay off his gambling debts. A bailiff arrives to speak to Featherstone. Knowing that he signed his loan forms with an agreement from Mary Garth's father, Fred slips away. He and Mary were childhood friends and she still teases him when they meet. Fred likes Mary "better than anyone else" (193) and he believes that he would be a far better man, if only she would return his love. Mary has long refused him, however, as she believes that their families would "dislike it" (196). Though she continuously turns down his proposals, Fred believes that Mary does love him.

Dr. Tertius Lydgate was orphaned when he was "fresh from a public school" (200). From the age of 10, however, he knew he wanted to be a doctor after reading "volumes of an old Cyclopaedia" (202). Now at the age of 27, he has studied in "London, Edinburgh, and Paris" (204). He wants to reform the archaic medical practices of his profession and research new cures and treatments. Key to the latter issue is his quest to understand the structure of tissue. Lydgate hopes to "innovate in his treatment" (207) and that this research will benefit many people, though he has become arrogant in his pursuit.

Lydgate is also a poor judge of character, particularly with regard to women. Though he is a clever man, he allows his own prejudices to cloud his judgement. One "impetuous folly" (212) in the past involved an attractive French actress in Paris. Lydgate pursued her for some time before she was forced to flee Paris after stabbing a fellow actor on stage. Lydgate believed her to be innocent and tracked her down, only for her to tell him that the murder was not entirely an accident because the actor "wearied" (216) her by being too fond. Lydgate does not believe that he can make such a mistake again.

The Vincy family hosts Lydgate for dinner. As they discuss the chaplaincy, Lydgate realizes that Bulstrode is "evidently a ruler" (218) in Middlemarch. Bulstrode claims that the power he wields as a rich banker is entirely "for the glory of God" (219). In reality, his profession means that he knows everyone's financial secrets and he is able to furnish desperate people with personal loans in an effort to control them. Rosamond wishes to learn more about Lydgate. She attempts to seduce him, showing off her "exquisite curves of lip and eyelid" (224) as well as her skill at the piano. Lydgate also meets the "handsome, broad-chested but otherwise small" (228) priest, Farebrother, who visits the house to play cards. Lydgate is invited to Farebrother's home to view the priest's collection of beetles. Once Lydgate leaves for the evening, Rosamond thinks about how a "romance" (234) with him would elevate her social class.

Lydgate calls on Farebrother the following day. He discovers that Farebrother's ragged, poor appearance and old, aging home is caused by his need to financially support his mother, aunt, and sister. They, like the home, are "old-fashioned, and of a faded but genuine respectability" (237). Farebrother's mother complains to Lydgate about Tyke, Bulstrode's Evangelical candidate for the chaplaincy. Farebrother claims that Tyke is an uneducated "zealous fellow" (241). Together, Lydgate and Farebrother examine the priest's collection of naturalist literature and his beetles, of which he has made "an exhaustive study" (243). Lydgate wonders how Farebrother spends the money he wins at the card table. He also complains to Farebrother about the senior, conservative figures in the medical profession who are unwilling to embrace new ideas. Farebrother sympathizes with the young man's idealism. Before Lydgate leaves, Farebrother assures him that they are now friends. If Lydgate feels he must vote to replace Farebrother with Tyke, he will "not offend" (248) Farebrother.

Lydgate and Farebrother develop their "acquaintanceship" (250) over the ensuing weeks. Lydgate respects Farebrother as a family man and as a preacher. However, he is less impressed by Farebrother's fondness for card games and gambling. He frets about how Farebrother spends his money, wondering whether the extra allowance afforded to the hospital chaplain will eliminate Farebrother's "disturbing" (252) need to gamble. Financial concerns have never bothered Lydgate, whose rich family have furnished him with everything he has ever needed thus far in his life. Lydgate worries that, if he votes for Tyke for the chaplaincy of the hospital, he will simply be acting as a pawn for Bulstrode, even if this would be the most pragmatic choice.

The day of the "judgement" (259) arrives. Lydgate attends the meeting of the board of directors and, when the board of hospital directors reach a tie, Lydgate must cast the decisive vote. The board members joke that Lydgate is "expected to vote with Mr. Bulstrode" (264); he angrily writes Tyke's name on his voting card. Lydgate casts his vote for Tyke but knows that he would have voted for Farebrother, had he been "free from indirect bias" (265).

Will is friends with a German artist named Naumann. They study painting together in Italy. During a visit to the Vatican museum, they run into Dorothea. Naumann is convinced that she is the "most perfect" (269) woman he has ever seen. Will is shocked as he had no idea that the newly-married couple were honeymooning in Rome. Naumann is fascinated by Dorothea and wants to paint her. He asks Will to introduce him to Dorothea.

Dorothea returns from the museum and sits in her room, "sobbing bitterly" (273). She feels alone and desolate, taking no pleasure from the wondrous "historic" (274) sights of Rome. She understands nothing about art or history, as her education is in other fields. Her marriage is also struggling. Casaubon pushes her away, rejecting her physical advances with a "tone of dismissal" (279). He dismisses her affectionate kisses as "crude and startling" (282). Casaubon grew angry when Dorothea questioned him about his research. Her innocent inquiry sparked an arrogant rebuke, in which he rejected the "facile conjectures of ignorant onlookers" (286).

Will visits the apartment rented by Dorothea and Casaubon. As Dorothea tries to shake herself out of her "self-absorbed discontent" (290), he notices that she is upset and he feels angry toward Casaubon. Attempting to be genial, he recalls their first meeting and her "criticism" (293) of his art. With Casaubon absent, Will jokes about his cousin's faltering "scholarship" (296). Dorothea is upset by the suggestion that her new husband may not be the towering intellect she presumed him to be. Her sadness only makes Will love her more. Casaubon returns to the apartment and seems "less happy than usual" (298). He invites Will to dine with the couple the following night. Will accepts and then departs. When they are alone, Dorothea apologizes to Casaubon "for speaking so hastily" (299) to him earlier that day. He accepts the apology but remains quietly annoyed that she would meet with his cousin alone.

Will is "delightfully agreeable" (302) at dinner with Dorothea and Casaubon. He tries hard to please his cousin and his friendly demeanor prompts Casaubon to spend the final few days of the honeymoon on sightseeing tours, rather than furthering his research. One of these visits includes a trip to an art studio, where they meet Naumann who is "painting industriously" (305). As Will and Naumann talk about their paintings, Dorothea feels a little less overwhelmed by the intellectualism of art. Naumann asks to sketch Casaubon and then Dorothea. Watching Naumann sketch Dorothea, Will feels conflicted and "exasperated" (310). He remains silent.

Will visits Dorothea the following day, hoping to see her "alone" (311). He knows that Casaubon will not be present. Dorothea quizzes Will about her husband's research. Will reluctantly tells her that Casaubon's work is irrelevant and outdated. His comments move Dorothea to "sorrow and anger" (317), prompting Will to take back his "unpleasant" (318) comments and criticize his own dependence on his cousin's money. Will offers his services to Dorothea, who simply asks that he not mention her husband's failing research to anyone. Will agrees.

Later, Casaubon returns to the apartment and Dorothea shares with him that Will has "made up his mind" (321) to find his own way in life, rejecting his cousin's financial support. She hopes that Casaubon will be pleased for his cousin. Instead, Casaubon is simply pleased that he is no longer obliged to support his family. He tells Dorothea to not mention Will's name as he no longer has any "interest" (322) in his cousin.