CHAPTERONE

MissBrooke

Miss Dorothea Brooke had the kind of beauty that looks even better inplainclothes.Herhandsandwrists,intheirplainsleeves,werelikethoseoftheMadonnainItalianpaintings.DorotheaandheryoungersisterCelia livedwiththeiruncleatTiptonGrange,a finehousenear the townofMiddlemarch.TheBrookeswereanoldandrespectablefamily.Bothsistersdressedplainlybecausetheyconsideredornamentationvulgar,butDorothea'sstyleofdresswasalsotheresult of religious feeling. She liked to read theological books and ask herselfgreatquestionsaboutthepurposeoflifeonearth.

Suchawomandoesnotspendtimethinkingaboutthelatestfashions.Thesistershadonlyrecentlymovedintothearea,sotheirneighbourswere

veryinterestedinthem.TheythoughtthatDorotheawasintelligentbutCeliahadmore common sense. Dorothea read too many books and did strange things.Once sheknelt downby a sick labourer in the street andprayed for him.Theneighbours thought that men might hesitate to ask for Dorothea's hand inmarriage,even thoughshewasbeautifulandcharmingandhadsevenhundredpoundsayearofherown.Theythoughtthatshemightspendallherhusband'smoneyonChristiancharityorarguewithhimaboutpoliticsorreligion.No,theneighboursdidnotapproveofMissDorotheaBrooke.TheypreferredCelia,wholookedso innocentand friendly.PoorDorothea!Shewasmuchmore innocentthanCelia,butunfortunatelyourfacesdonotalwaysreflectourcharacters.

WheneverayoungmancametoTiptonGrange,Dorotheathoughtthathemust be in lovewithCelia.Sir JamesChettam, for example, came frequently.DorotheawonderedwhetherCeliashouldmarryhimornot.Shenever thoughtthatSirJamesmightwanttomarryDorotheaherself.Ifshehadthoughtofit,itwouldhaveseemedridiculoustoher.Shehadnointerestinahandsomefriendlybaronet,whoalwayssaid'Exactly'inreplytohercomments,evenwhenshehadexpresseduncertainty.

Dorothea had very childlike ideas about marriage. She dreamed ofmarryingamucholderman-ascholarinvolvedinsomegreatwork.Thereallydelightfulmarriage,shethought,mustbeonewhereyourhusbandwasasortoffatherandcouldteachyouevenHebrew,ifyouwishedit.

***Oneday,Sir Jameswas invited to dinner atTiptonGrangewith another

gentleman: the Reverend Edward Casaubon. Dorothea had never met MrCasaubonbefore.Hewasknownintheareaasagreatscholarwhowaswritingabookonreligioushistory.

SirJamesandMrCasaubonsatoppositeDorotheaatthedinnertable.Thecontrastbetweenthemwasextreme.SirJameshadapinkfaceandredhair.HewasatypicalyoungEnglishmaninexcellenthealth.MrCasaubonwastallandthin.His facewas pale, and his hairwas grey.Dorothea thought hismannerswere very dignified. He listened patiently as Mr Brooke talked foolishly.Dorotheawasembarrassedbyheruncle'sfoolishconversation.

'Books,now,yes! Ihave readmanybooksonalldifferentsubjects!' saidMrBrooke.

'Iamreadingaveryinterestingbookatthemoment,'saidSirJames.'Itisfullofexcellentmodernideasaboutfarming.Iwilltrytoputthemintopracticeononeofmyfarms.Doyouthinkthatisagoodidea,MissBrooke?'

'I think that's a great mistake,' said Mr Brooke. 'It'll cost you a lot ofmoney.Theoldwaysarebest,youknow.Justletyourtenantsdothefarmingtheway they've always done it.Thenyou can spendyourmoneyonnewhuntingdogs!'

'Thelandsupportsusall,richandpoor,'saidDorothea.'Surelyitisbettertospendmoneyonfarmingthanonsport.'

She spoke with great energy, which was unusual in a young lady. MrCasaubonlookedatherwithmoreinterestthanbefore.

'Youngladiesdon'tunderstandpoliticaleconomy,'saidMrBrooke,smilingatMrCasaubon.'Haveyoureadmuchaboutpoliticaleconomy,Casaubon?'

'No,' repliedMr Casaubon. 'I have no time to readmodern writers.Myeyesightisweak,andImustuseitformywork.Ishouldfindsomeonetoreadaloudtomeintheevenings,butitmustbesomeonewithagoodreadingvoice.Myworkisallabouttheancientworld.SometimesIthinkmymindisliketheghostofanancient,wanderingabouttheworld,tryingtoreconstructitasitusedtobe.ButImustbeverycarefulofmyeyesight.'

DorotheathoughtthatMrCasaubonwasthemostinterestingmanshehadevermet.Toreconstructapastworld!Whatnoblework!

'Doyoulikeriding,MissBrooke?'askedSirJames.HehadseenDorothearidingafewdaysbefore.Thefreshairhadmadehereyesshineandhercheekspink.Shehadlookedverycharming.'Ifyoudo,Iwillsendyouahorse.'

'No,thankyou,'saidDorothea.'Iintendtogiveupriding.'Dorothea did not want to talk to Sir James; she wanted to listen toMr

Casaubon.However,MrCasaubonwasnotspeakingatthemoment.MrBrookewastellinghimthathehadmanydocuments,butheneverknewwheretofindthem.

'Letmeorganiseyourdocumentsforyou,uncle,'saidDorothea.MrCasaubonsmiledandsaid,'Yousee,MrBrooke,youhaveanexcellent

secretaryinthehouse.''No,'saidMrBrooke.'Iwon'tletyoungladiestouchmydocuments.Young

ladiesaretooflighty.'Whenthetwogirlswereinthedrawing-roomalone,Celiasaid,'Howvery

uglyMrCasaubonis!Heissopale.''It is better to be pale than to be as pink as a cochon de laitl!' said

Dorothea.'Dodo!'criedCeliainsurprise.Dorotheawas clearly angry. 'Celia, you look at human beings as if they

wereanimalsinclothes.Youcan'tseethegreatsoulinaman'sface.''DoesMrCasaubonhaveagreatsoul?'askedCeliaironically.'Yes,'saidDorothea.'Ithinkhedoes.'***Over the weeks that followed, Dorothea saw Mr Casaubon on several

occasions. They had long conversations about his study - the Key to AllMythologies. Dorothea was convinced that he was an extraordinary manengaged in important research. When Mr Casaubon asked for her hand inmarriage,sheacceptedhimwithgratitude.Shefelt thatshewasstartinganewlifefullofrealsignificance.'Withmeathisside,'shethought,'MrCasaubonwillbeabletocompletehislife'swork.Iwillreadaloudtohim,takenotesforhim,andcomforthimwhenhe'stired.Iwilllearnhowtoliveagreatlife,here-now-inEngland!'

WhentheneighboursheardofDorothea'sengagement,theywereshocked.Howcould a lovely youngwomanmarry a dry stick of amanover twice herage?MrsCadwallader, the vicar'swife, said thatDorothea had always been astrangegirl.SirJamesChettamwasdeeplyhurtandangry.

'Themanhasnoredbloodinhisbody!'hesaid toMrsCadwallader. 'Hehasnorighttomarryalovelyyounggirl!'

MrsCadwallader tried to comfort him. 'Don'tworry, James,' she said. 'IthinkthatCelialikesyou,'

SirJamesthoughtaboutCelia.Shecertainlywasacharmingandfriendlyyoungwoman.

***Duringhisengagement,MrCasaubonspentalotoftimeatTiptonGrange.

ThesevisitsmadeprogressonhisKeytoAllMythologiesdifficult.He lookedforwardtogettingmarried:thenhecouldreturntoworkasusual.MrCasaubonwas surprised at how little passion he felt inDorothea's presence. Perhaps, hethought, therewassomethingwrongwithher.Buthecouldseenothingwrongwithher,soheconcludedthatthepoetshadexaggeratedtheforceofpassion.

On one grey but dry day inNovember,Dorothea drove toLowick -MrCasaubon'shouse-withheruncleandCelia.Thehousewasofdarkstone,andthewindowsweresmall.Oldtreesstoodinthegroundsaroundthehouse,sothatverylittlesunlightreachedthewindows.

'Ohdear!'saidCelia. 'FreshittHallismuchbetterthanthis!'FreshittHallwasSirJames'shouse,builtofwhitestone,withaporticoandagardenfullofflowers.

DorothealikedLowick.Shelikedthedarklibraryandthegentlecoloursofthecarpetsandcurtains.Thiswasherfuturehome.Shelookedatitwithakindofreverence.Shedidnotwishtochangeanything.

Upstairs, Dorothea chose her future bedroom. It was decorated in bluesand greens and had a largewindow.Looking around the room,Dorothea sawsomeminiatureportraits.'Whoaretheseladies?'sheasked.

'Thatismymother,'saidMrCasaubon.'Andtheotherladyishersister.''Thesisterispretty,'saidCelia, implyingthatMrCasaubon'smotherwas

not.

'Younevertoldmeyouhadanaunt,'saidDorothea.'MyAunt Juliamadeanunfortunatemarriage,' saidMrCasaubon. 'Shall

wewalkinthegarden?'As theywalked through the garden, they saw a youngmanwith brown

curlyhair.Hewassittingonabench,sketchinganoldtree.'Whoisthat?'askedMrBrooke.'Heisarelativeofmine.Infact,'saidMrCasaubontoDorothea,'heisthe

grandsonofmyAunt Julia,whoseportraityousawupstairs.Letme introduceyou.ThisismycousinMrLadislaw.Will,thisisMissBrooke.'

MrWillLadislawhadthesamegreyeyesanddelicatenosethatDorotheahad noticed in his grandmother's portrait. He did not smile. He looked ratherdiscontented. They exchanged a little polite conversation, thenWill sat downagain and the others continued theirwalk.As soon as theywere out of sight,Willlaughedaloud.Partlyitwastheirdiscussionofhissketchthatamusedhimandpartlyitwasthethoughtofhisdryoldcousinastheloverofthatgirl.

'Whatisyourcousin'sprofession?'askedMrBrooke,astheywalkedon.'He refuses to choose a profession. He studied at Heidelberg. Now he

wants to go abroad again "for the culture", he says. I'm afraidmy cousin is adilettante.Hedoesnotlikehardwork.Ihavetriedtotalktohimaboutit,buthewon'tlisten.'

'Doyougivehimthemoneyforhistravels?'askedMrBrooke.'Yes.Iagreedtopayforhiseducationandhelphimgetstartedinlife.''That'sverykindofyou,' saidDorothea. 'It'snoble. I thinkweshouldall

helpeachother.'Afewdayslater,WillleftforEurope.Hedidnotsayexactlywherehewas

going, because he believed that genius needs freedom. He did not, however,understandamuchmorefundamentalfact: thatgeniusisthepowertomakeordonoteverythingingeneralbutsomethinginparticular.

CHAPTERTWO

MrLydgate

Oneday,MrCasaubonsaid toDorothea, 'I'msorry thatyoursisterwon'taccompany us on our wedding-journey to Rome. You will have many lonelyhours, Dorothea. I shall have to spend a lot of time in the Vatican Library. Iwouldfeelmoreatlibertyifyouhadacompanion.'

Thewords 'Iwould feelmore at liberty' irritatedDorothea. For the firsttimewhenspeaking toMrCasaubon, sheblushedwithannoyance.Somedaysearlier,MrCasaubonhadsuggested thatCeliaaccompany them.DorotheahadaskedCelia,andCeliahadrefused.'Ihavenowishtoimpedeyourwork,'said

Dorothea. 'Iwillbeperfectlycontentonmyown.Pleasedon'tmentionitagain.'

Shehadspokeninanger,butthenshefearedthatshewaswrong.Sheputherhandonhisandsaid,inagentlervoice,'Don'tbeanxiousaboutme.'

That evening there was a dinner party at Tipton Grange. As soon asDorotheaandMrCasaubonwereoutofsight,theguestsbegantodiscussthem.'MissBrooke isafinewoman,'saidMrStandish, the lawyer.HeseemedtobespeakingtoMrBulstrodethebanker,butMrBulstrodedidnotreply.Hewasavery religiousman and did not like to participate in this kind of conversationaboutwomen.

MrChicheley,amiddle-agedbachelor,said,'Yes,butIdon'tlikethatkindofwoman.Ilikethemblond,withacertainwayofwalking,andalongthinnecklikeaswan.Ipreferthemayor'sdaughtertoMissBrooke.IfIwantedtomarry,IwouldmarryMissVincy.'

'Well,askher,then!'saidMrStandish,laughing.'Itseemsthatmiddle-agedloversarefashionablethesedays!'

Notfaraway,MrsCadwalladerandLadyChettam-SirJames'smother-sattogetheranddiscussedMrCasaubon.'Howoldishe?'askedLadyChettam.

'He'sover forty-fiveand inpoorhealth.Studiousmenarenever ingoodhealth.Andhisstudiesaresoverydry.Really,standingtherebesideJames,helookslikeadeath'shead,'continuedMrsCadwallader.'Inayearfromnow,thatgirlwillhatehim.Shethinkshe iswonderfulnow,butsoonshewill feelvery

differently!''IOhdear,whataveryanimatedconversationMissBrookeishavingwith

MrLydgate!' saidLadyChettam. 'He's thenewdoctor, isn'the?Doyouknowanythingabouthim?'

'MrBrooke,whoknowshisuncle,says thathe isoneof theLydgatesofNorthumberland,averygoodfamily.Doctorsofthatkindarenotusuallyfromgoodfamilies.AndapparentlyhestudiedinParis!That'sunusualtoo.'

MrStandishandMrBulstrodewerealsodiscussingthenewdoctor.'IamgladthatDrLydgatehascometoMiddlemarch,'saidMrBulstrode.'Heisverywelleducatedandfamiliarwithmodernmedicine.Heisinterestedinreformofthemedicalprofession.Iwillaskhimtobethemanagerofthenewhospital.'

'I liked old Dr Hicks,' saidMr Standish. 'He was a good old-fashioneddoctor. This new fellow sounds dangerous to me. He will do all sorts ofexperiments.Iwon'tpayhimtoexperimentonme!'

***MrLydgateleftthepartyearly.Theonlyreallyinterestingpersonhehad

spokentoalleveningwasMissBrooke.Shewasyoungandbeautiful,engagedto thatdryoldscholar,and interested inhelping thepoor: thiswasanunusualandintriguingcombinationofcharacteristics.'She'skind-heartedandadmirable,'hethought,'butalittletooearnest.Womenlikethatarealwaysaskingquestions,but they are too ignorant to understand the answers. Beingmarried to such awomanmust be exhausting, like coming home fromwork to teach a class inmiddleschool.Ifoneweremarriedtoadifferentkindofwoman,cominghomewouldbelikegoingtoparadise,withsweetlaughsforbird-songandblueeyesforheaven.'

In fact, Lydgate was already fascinated by a young lady who was verydifferent fromMiss Brooke. He had known her as long asMr Casaubon hadknownDorothea,butMrLydgateandMrCasaubonwereverydifferentmeninverydifferentsituations.Lydgatedidnot think thathewas in love,buthehadsaidofMissRosamondVincy,'Sheisgraceful,lovelyandaccomplished.Sheisexactlywhatawomanoughttobe.'

If he had wanted to marry immediately, he would have married her.However,hedidnotplantomarryforseveralyears.Attwenty-sevenyearsold,he was poor and ambitious. He wanted to make great advances in medical

science,toberememberedasaninnovatorinhisfield.Hedidnotwanttoearnalotofmoneybutrathertoworkforthegreatergoodofmedicalscience.

Lydgate's parents had died when he was only eighteen years old. Hisfather,amilitaryman,hadleftverylittlemoneytohisthreesons.WhenTertiussaidthathewantedtobecomeadoctor,hisguardiansdidnotobject.Hewasoneofthoserarepeoplewhodecideearlywhattheywanttodowiththeirlives.

Hehadatruevocationformedicine,andhestudiedhard.His special interestwas in thenature of fevers.Hehadbeenprofoundly

influencedbyBichat,whohadsuggested-butnotproved-thatalltheorgansofthe human body were made of one primitive tissue. While in Middlemarch,Lydgate intended to work as a doctor in the community by day and as aresearcherbynight.HeintendedtoproveBichat'stheoryoftheprimitivetissue.Thatwashisplan:todogoodsmallworkforMiddlemarchandgreatworkfortheworld.

With such a plan for the future, he could notmarry for several years tocome.Yet he foundMissRosamondVincyvery charming. She had a delicategracefulfigureandpureblondhair.EveryoneagreedthatshewastheflowerofMissLemon'sschool,thebestschoolforyoungladiesinthecounty.Thereshehadlearnedallayounglady'saccomplishments.

TheVincyswereanoldmanufacturingfamily,andRosamond'sfatherMrVincy was the mayor of Middlemarch. Mr Vincy's sister was married to MrBulstrode, thebankerandphilanthropist.AlthoughMrBulstrodewasnot fromMiddlemarch-infacthisoriginsweresomethingofamystery-hewasclearlyagentleman.MrVincy had been pleasedwhen his sistermarriedMrBulstrode.Suchalliancesmadethefamilymoreacceptabletotheneighbourhoodgentry.

Rosamond'srefinededucationhadmadeherfeelthatshewastoogoodfortheyoungmeninhersocialcircle.Whenshedreamedofloveandmarriage,shealways dreamed of someone from far away - a handsome stranger, a man oftalent.WhenLydgatecametoMiddlemarch,Rosamondsoonbegantoimaginehimasher fascinatingstranger.Hewas tallandhandsomewithdarkeyes.Hismanners and speechwere gentlemanly. People said hewas from a very goodfamily.When hewas in the same roomwith her, shewas conscious of beingwatched.Sheknewthathefoundherattractive,andsoshelostinterestinalltheotheryoungmenwhoweretryingtowinherfavour.

One evening, there was a party at the mayor's house. When Lydgate

arrived,heimmediatelybegantalkingtoRosamond.'Ihopeyouwillsingthisevening,'hesaid.'Haveyoustudiedmusic?'askedRosamond.'No,butitdelightsme.'Lydgate was fascinated by her infantile blondness, her delicacy and her

grace.Sheseemedalwaystosaytherightthing.'I'mafraidtosinginfrontofyou,'shesaid.'Myvoiceisgoodenoughfor

myMiddlemarchneighbours,butyouhaveheardthebestsingersinParis.IhaveonlyoncebeentoLondon.'

'WhatdidyouseeinLondon?''Verylittle.ThatiswhyI'mafraidofyou.I'mjustasimplecountrygirl.''An accomplishedwoman always knowsmore thanwemen, though her

knowledge isof adifferent sort,' saidLydgate. 'I'msureyoucould teachmeathousandthings-asanexquisitebirdcouldteachabear,iftherewereacommonlanguagebetweenthem.Fortunately,thereisacommonlanguagebetweenmenandwomen,sothebearscanbetaught.'

Rosamond blushed with pleasure. She turned her long neck a little andraisedherhandtoherlovelyhair.

Lydgatehadnoideathatshewasalreadydreamingoftheirwedding.Shehadno reason topostponematrimony.Shehadno scientific studies todistractherfromquestionsofloveandmarriage.

***LydgatespentmanyhourswithRosamondatvariousparties.Politesociety

inMiddlemarchwasasmallworld.ApleasingyoungmanlikeLydgatereceivedmanyinvitations,buttheguestsatthesepartieswerealwaysthesame.HehadnoideathatpeoplewerebeginningtotalkabouthisattentionstoRosamond.

Infact,hedidnotmuchcarewhatotherpeoplethoughtofhimingeneral.Forexample,hehadoffendedtheMiddlemarchdoctorswithoutknowingthathehaddoneso.Hisopinionsaboutthecorrectwaystocureillnessesweredifferentfrom theirs.Whenhegavehisopinions,he implied that theirswerewrong,asindeedhethoughttheywere.

Another thing thatmade someof theMiddlemarchmendistrustLydgate

washisassociationwithBulstrode.Bulstrodehadbuiltanewhospitalforcharitypatients.HewantedLydgate tomanage thishospital, andLydgatewasgladofthe opportunity to do so. Lydgate was often seen talking to Bulstrode. Thebankerwas not a popularman because hewas not born inMiddlemarch and,more importantly, because his severe religious views made him unpleasantcompany. He disapproved of drinking, dancing, music and almost all thepleasurable things in life. He called them sinful and was constantly askingpeopletostopdoingthem.Lydgatetoowasfromanotherpartofthecountryand,thoughhedidnot seemparticularly religious,his senseofhisown superiorityhadasimilarlychillingeffect.

Oneday,whileshowingLydgatearoundthenewhospital,Bulstrodesaid,'Iimagineyou'rethinkingofgettingmarriedsoon.'

'No.Notforalongtimeyet.I'vetoomuchworktodo,'saidLydgate.'Inthatcase,'saidMrBulstrode,'perhapsyoushouldbemorecarefulabout

yourattentionstoyoungladies.Thisisasmalltown,andpeopletalk.'Thebankerhad spoken in a friendlymanner,buthismeaningwasclear.

Thefamilyhaddelegatedhimtoprotecthisniece'sreputation.Lydgate was unpleasantly surprised. He stopped accepting invitations.

Fromthatdayonwards,Lydgatestayedathomeintheevenings,reading.Rosamond noticed his absence from parties. Indeed, parties seemed

intolerably dull to her without him. She lost her appetite. She could think ofnothing butLydgate.Ten days passed in thisway, but toRosamond those tendaysseemedaneternity.

On the eleventh day, Lydgate came to the Vincys' house to leave somemedicine for Rosamond's father. Mr Vincy was not in. The servant askedLydgateifhewantedtoleavethemedicinewithMissVincy.

'Yes,'saidLydgate,enteringthehouse.He had some vague idea of joking with her about his absence from

Middlemarchparties.Hewanted them tobe friends.But,whenheentered thedrawing-room, she blushed so deeply that he felt a correspondingembarrassment. Instead of joking about his absence, he asked her, almostformally,togivethemedicinetoherfather.

When he first walked in, Rosamond thought that her happiness wasreturning.But then,whensheheardhis formal tone, shewasdeeplyhurt.She

wentpaleandreplied,coldly,'Yes.I'llgiveittohim.'Lydgate could thinkof nothing else to say.He looked at her lovely face

andsawthatherlipsweretrembling.Atthatmomentshewasasnaturalasshehadbeenatfiveyearsold.Thetearscameintohereyes,andtherewasnothingshecoulddotostopthem.

ForLydgate, thatmomentofnaturalnesschanged flirtation into love.Hewas very warm-hearted and impulsive. He certainly did not want to hurt thislovely youngwoman.Her eyes seemed to him like blue flowers underwater.'Whatisthematter?Please,tellme!'hesaid.

Rosamondmadeherlittleconfession,andhespokewordsofgratitudeandtenderness.When he left the house, half an hour later, hewas engaged to bemarriedtoRosamondVincy.

CHAPTERTHREE

Awedding-journeytoRome

Forty years ago, George IV was the king of England, the Duke ofWellingtonwasPrimeMinister,MrVincywastheMayorofMiddlemarch,andMrsCasaubon,bornDorotheaBrooke,wentonherwedding-journeytoRome.

One day in December, Will Ladislaw was looking at the statues in theVaticanwhenhisfriendNaumanncameuptohimandsaid,'Comeandseethiswoman!' The twomenwent quickly and quietly down the corridor to anotherroomwhere therewas a beautifulmarble statueof aGreekgoddess.Standingnearthestatuewasalovelyyoungwomandressedinplaingreyclothes.Shewasnot looking at the statue. Her large eyes were fixed dreamily on the sunlightcomingthroughthewindow.Suddenlyshenoticedthatshewasbeingwatched.Withoutlookingatthetwomen,sheturnedandwalkedaway.

'What a contrast!' said Naumann, when she was gone. 'There is antiquebeauty,paganandsensual.Andhereislivingbeauty,fulloftheconsciousnessofChristiancenturies!IfIpaintedapictureofit,Iwouldmakeherdressasanun.'

'She's married to my cousin,' said Will. 'I didn't know that they werecomingtoRome.'

'Doyoumeanthatoldman?Isawhimwithherearliertoday.Goandvisitthemandintroducemetothem.Maybeyourcousinwouldlikemetopaintthelady'sportrait.'

'I don't know if I shall visit themor not.AndEnglish ladies havebetterthingstodothantomodelforyou.Ifyoupaintedher,youwouldonlypainttheoutside.Languageisafinermediumforrepresentingwomen.'

'Yes,forthosewhocan'tpaint!'saidNaumann.Willwasoffendedanddidnotreply.'I see,' saidNaumann. 'You are in lovewithyourgreat-aunt, andnoone

elsecanlookather!Thisisserious,myfriend!''Don'tjokeaboutthatlady,Naumann,'saidWill,irritated.Hesuddenlyfelt

thatsomethinghadchangedinhisrelationtoher.***

Twohours later,Dorotheawas in her apartment in theViaSistina. I amsorrytosaythatshewassobbingbitterly.MrCasaubonwasintheVatican.Shedidnotexpecthimtocomebackforseveralhours.DorotheahadnowbeenfiveweeksinRome.Shehadseenthegreatruinsandthegloriouschurches,butshefounditallratheroppressive.Shepreferredtogoouttothecountrytobealonewiththeearthandthesky.

Duringthesefirstfiveweeksofmarriage,herideaofMrCasaubonandherrelation tohimhadgraduallychanged.MrCasaubonhimselfhadnotchanged:he was exactly the same. Before they were married, she had thought of hislearning as a noble search for truth; but now it seemed a dry and depressingactivity.Hismind had seemed to her like a fine building, high on a hill,withpanoramicviewsandlotsoffreshair;nowitseemedlikealabyrinth,fullofdarkcorridorsthatlednowhere.

Wheneverhesuggestedthatsheshouldseeabuildingoraworkofart,hesaid,'Mostpeoplethinkitworthvisiting.'

If Dorothea asked him, 'But what do you think?', he replied, 'It is veryfamous.'

There is nothingmore depressing for a passionate youngmind than thiskind of response, in which years of knowledge seem to have produced acompleteabsenceofinterestorsympathy.

It seemed toher thatMrCasaubonhadforgotten thepurposeofhisownwork.Hespenthis timewritingsarcasticcommentsaboutothermen's theoriesofthesolardeities,andindoingsohehadbecomeindifferenttothesunlight.

Shemightnothavenoticedthesethingssosoonifhehadbeenwarmandloving towards her, but he was not. She had a warm heart. She longed forsomeonetoloveandserve.Shewantedsomeonetoholdherhandsandlistentoherthoughtsandtellherhisownthoughtsinreturn.ButMrCasaubonwasnotlikethat.Hespenthisdaysworking,andintheeveningsheoftenseemedstilltobethinkingabouthisresearch.Hehadnotfoundmarriagetobeastateofintensedelight. Nevertheless, he intended to be a good husband, and hoped to makeDorotheahappy.

Thatmorningtherehadbeenanunpleasantscenebetweenthem.Dorotheahad said to her husband, 'I hope you are satisfiedwith our time in Rome - Imean,asfarasyourstudiesareconcerned.'

'Yes,'repliedMrCasaubon.'Ihavemadesomeinterestingnotes.Theyarenotabsolutelynecessarytomystudy,buttheyareofinterest.Fortunately,yourcompanyhaspreventedmefromworkingtoohard.'

'I'm very glad that my presence has made any difference to you,' saidDorothea. 'I hope that,whenwe get back toLowick, I can bemore useful toyou.'

'Certainly,mydear,' saidMrCasaubon. 'Iwillneedyou tocopyout andorganisethenotesIhavemadehere.'

'Yes, your notes,' said Dorothea. 'And all those volumes of notes atLowick.Don'tyouthinkthatnowmaybethetimetowriteyourbook?Willyoudecidewhattoincludeinthebookandwhattoomit,sothattheworldcanfinallybenefit fromyour vast knowledge? Iwill help you. I can be of no other use.'Dorotheaendedwithasobandhereyesfulloftears.

'My love,' replied Mr Casaubon. He seemed calm, even though hercommenthadhurtandshockedhimdeeply.'Iwillknowwhenthetimehascometo write my book. People who don't know what it is to work hard cannotunderstandtruescholarship.'

'IrealisethatIcannotfullyunderstandyourwork,'saidDorotheacoldly.'Isimplywantedtobeofuse.'

Bothwereshockedby thesituation.Eachhadbeenangrywith theother.Neitherofthemfeltabletosaythegentlewordsthatcouldrestoretranquillity.Dorotheafeltthatallhereffortstoparticipateinhislifewerecoldlyrejected.MrCasaubon felt as if he had invited one of his critics into his home. Instead ofcomforting him when others criticised him, Dorothea was herself becomingcritical.

***Whenher servantTantripp knocked on the door,Dorothea quickly dried

hereyes. 'Comein,'shesaid.Tantrippenteredandsaidthatayounggentlemanhadcometovisit.ShegaveDorotheaacardonwhichwaswrittenthename'MrWillLadislaw'.

'Thankyou,'saidDorothea.'I'llcomedownstairsimmediately.'WillstoodupasDorotheaenteredthedrawing-room.Hecouldseethatshe

hadbeencrying.Shecame towardshim,smiling inanopen friendlyway,andshook his hand. He was several years older than she, but at that moment he

lookedyounger,forheblushedsuddenly.'Ididn'tknowthatyouandMrCasaubonwereinRomeuntilthismorning,

whenIsawyouintheVaticanMuseum,'hesaid.'Ihopeyouarebothenjoyingyourtimehere.'

'Thankyou.MrCasaubonisnothereatthemoment-heisverybusy-buthewillbegladtohearthatyoucalled.'

'If youwill allowme, Iwill call again tomorrowwhenMrCasaubon ishere,'saidWill.

'HegoestoreadintheVaticanLibraryeveryday.He'susuallyawayfrombreakfasttodinner.ButI'msurehe'llinviteyoutohavedinnerwithus.'

WillhadneverlikedMrCasaubon.Nowhefeltangrywithhim.Thatdryoldpedanthadgot thisadorableyoungwomantomarryhim,andnowhewaspassing his honeymoon away from her. The thought filledWillwith a sort ofcomicdisgust:hedidn'tknowwhethertolaughorinsultMrCasaubonatthetopofhisvoice.

WillsmiledatDorothea,andshesmiledback.WillLadislaw'ssmilewasdelightful. His face seemed full of light. 'Something amuses you?' askedDorothea.

'Yes,'saidWill,quicklyfindinganexcuseforhissmile.'I'mthinkingofthefirsttimewemet,whenyoucriticisedmypoorsketch.'

'Criticised?' said Dorothea in surprise. 'I can't criticise art. I am tooignorantaboutit.'

'Yousaidthatyoucouldn'tseetherelationofmysketchtonature.''Thatwasreallymyignorance,'saidDorothea. 'Irarelyseeanybeautyin

pictures,eventhosethatareconsideredveryfine.'Willrealisedthatshewasentirelysincere.'Ienjoythepaintingsherevery

much,'hesaid.'ButIprobablylearnedhowtoenjoythemgradually.AndIpaintalittlemyself.Thathelpsmetoappreciatethem.'

'Doyou intend tobecomeapainter?'askedDorothea. 'MrCasaubonwillbegladtohearthatyouhavechosenaprofession.'

'Oh no,' said Will. 'I've decided not to become a painter. I have somefriendsherewhoareGermanpainters.Theyarebrilliantfellows,buttheylookatlifeentirelyfromthepointofviewofpainting.Idon'twanttodothat.'

'Yes, Iunderstand,' saidDorothea. 'Somany things seemmorenecessarythan paintings.But if you have artistic talent, perhaps you should take that asyourguide.'

'I'mafraidIdon'thaveenoughtalent,'saidWill.Hersimplehonestymadehim feel that he could say anything to her. 'And it is useless forme to try tobecomeagreatpainter throughhardwork.If thingsdon'tcomeeasily tome,Inevergetthem.'

'IhaveheardMrCasaubonsaythathewishesyouweremorepatient,'saidDorothea, gently. She was rather shocked at his way of taking all life as aholiday.

'Yes,IknowMrCasaubon'sopinion.HeandIdiffer.'Thecontempt inhis replyoffendedDorothea. 'You'recertainlydifferent,'

shesaid,proudly.'Ineverthoughtofcomparingyou.MrCasaubon'sdiligenceisrare.'

Willsawthatshewasoffended,buthedidnotliketohearherdefendingherhusband.'Yes,'hereplied.'Thatiswhyit'ssuchapitythatit'swasted.IfMrCasauboncouldreadGerman,hewouldsavehimselfalotoftrouble.'

'Whatdoyoumean?'askedDorothea,surprisedandanxious.'Imean,'saidWill,casually, 'thattheGermanshavealreadydonealotof

theworkheistryingtodo.'Willdidnotrealisewhatpainhiswordscausedher.Theideathatallher

husband'shardworkmightbeuselessfilledherheartwithpityandanxietyforhim.

Whenhesawtheeffectofhiswords,Willfeltratherashamed.'Ithinkit'sagreatpity. I especially regret itbecauseMrCasaubonhasbeensogenerous tome.'

Dorothea looked up at him with tears in her eyes. 'I was at school atLausanne, and there were German teachers there, but I didn't study German.HowIwishIhad!IfIcouldreadGermannow,Icouldbeofusetohim.'

Will began to see why Dorothea had married Mr Casaubon. She hadimaginedsome romantic role forherself in thismarriage. IfMrCasaubonhadbeen a dragon that had carried her away, Will would have rescued her anddeclaredhisloveforher.Butthesituationwasmorecomplicatedthanthat.

At that moment, Mr Casaubon came through the door. He wasunpleasantlysurprisedtoseeWilltherewithDorothea,especiallysincebothofthemseemedagitated.However,hewas,asalways,calmandpolite.Ashestoodbesidehisyoungcousin,MrCasaubonlookedevenmorefadedthanusual.Willgavean impressionof sunnybrightness.Whenhe turnedhisheadquickly,hishairseemedtoradiatelight.MrCasaubon,onthecontrary,stoodrayless.

Dorotheadidnotnoticethecontrast, thoughshedidseethatherhusbandlookedsad.Shefeltpityandtendernessforhim.Forthefirsttime,shesawhimasheactuallywas,notashergirlishdreamshadmadehim.

MrCasaubon invitedWill todinner the followingday.Willaccepted theinvitationand,seeingthathiscousinwastired,leftimmediately.

DorotheasatbesideMrCasaubonandsaid, 'ForgivemeforspeakingasIdidthismorning.Iwaswrong.IfearthatIhurtyou.'

'I'mgladyoufeelthat,mydear,'saidMrCasaubon.'Butdoyouforgiveme?'askedDorotheawithasob.'Yes,mydear.Don'tdistressyourself.'Hewantedtotellherthatsheshould

nothavereceivedyoungLadislawinhisabsence,buthedidnotwanttocriticiseheratthemomentofherpenitence.

CHAPTERFOUR

Lowick

Mr and Mrs Casaubon arrived home from their wedding-journey inJanuary.Alightsnowwasfalling.LowicklookeddifferenttoDorotheanow.Inthegreywinter light, it seemeddark andoppressive.During the first evening,she realised that, as mistress of Lowick, she had no duties. The servants dideverything.

Themorningaftertheirarrival,MrCasaubongotupearly.Hesaidhehadslept badly and was not feeling well. Nevertheless, he went into his study towork immediately after breakfast. 'What shall I do?' Dorothea asked, and hereplied,'Whateveryoulike,mydear.'Shefeltasifshewereinprison.

Back in her room, Dorothea looked at the miniature portrait of MrCasaubon'sAuntJulia,whohadmadeanunfortunatemarriage.Wasitonlyherfamilywhothoughtthathermarriagewasamistake,ordidsheherselfregretitandcryaboutitinthesilenceofthenight?Dorotheafeltanewcompanionshipwith theportrait. Itwas theonlyobject in thehouse thatnowseemed tohavemore interest and significance than it had possessed on her visit to Lowicknearlythreemonthsbefore.JuliawasWillLadislaw'sgrandmother.AsDorothealookedattheportrait,sheimagineditchanginggraduallyfromafemininefaceto a masculine one, full of light, which looked at her with great interest.Dorotheasmiledattheportrait.

Just thenMrBrookeandCeliaarrived.Dorothea randownstairs togreetthem.

'Hello,mydear!'criedMrBrooke.'Youdolookwell!I'msureyouenjoyedRome-happiness,frescoes,theantique!It'sverypleasanttohaveyouback.ButCasaubonlooksalittlepale.'

Dorothealookedanxiouslyatherhusband.'YougooffwithCelia,mydear,' continuedMrBrooke. 'Shehas a great

surpriseforyou,andshewantstotellyouallaboutit.'DorotheaandCeliawenttotheblue-greenroomtogether.'IsRomeaniceplaceforawedding-journey?'askedCelia,blushing.'I don't thinkyouwould like it,'Dorothea replied, thinking, 'Noonewill

everknowmyopinionofawedding-journeytoRome.''MrsCadwalladersaysthatwedding-journeysareamistake.Shesaysyou

gettiredofeachother,'saidCelia,blushingmoredeeply.'Celia!Hasanythinghappened?Whatisyourgreatsurprise?''SirJameshasaskedmetomarryhim!'Dorothea tookher sister's face inherhandsand lookedather anxiously.

Celia's face seemedmore serious than itused todo. 'Andareyouhappy?' sheasked.

'Yes!''Oh,I'msoglad.SirJamesisagood,honourableman.'***Onemorning,afewweeksafterherarrivalatLowick,Dorothea-butwhy

always Dorothea? Is hers the only point of view from which to look at thismarriage? Iprotestagainstall this interest in theyoungandbeautiful.Theoldand ugly have feelings too.Mr Casaubon had done nothing wrong in gettingmarried.WhenhemetDorothea,hethoughtshewastheidealwifeforhim.HedidnotaskhimselfifhewastheidealhusbandforDorothea,butthatwasnotMrCasaubon's fault. Society never expects a man to ask if he is charming andhandsome.Hehadhopedtomakehiswifehappyandtofindhappinesshimself.

The one great anxiety of Mr Casaubon's life was his Key to AllMythologies.Thelongerheworkedonit,themoreperfect-itseemedtohim-thefinishedproducthad tobe.Hehadpublisheda fewarticles,and thecriticshadnot liked them.Thepoormanhadhoped to findcomfort inmarriage,butnowhefeltthatDorotheatoowaslookingathisworkcritically.Forthatreasonhedidnotwanthertohelphiminthelibrary,butsheinsisted,sothatfinallyshejoinedhimeverymorningtoreadaloudorcopynotes.

Onemorninghesaid,'Dorothea,here'saletterforyoufromMrLadislaw.Hewrotetomeaswell.'

'MrLadislaw!'shesaidinsurprise. 'Idon'tknowwhathewantstosaytome,butIcanimaginewhathewrotetoyou.'

DuringoneoftheirconversationsinRome,WillhadtoldDorotheathatheintendedtostoptakingmoneyfromMrCasaubon.Hewantedtobeindependent.Dorotheaadmiredhimforhisdecision.Infact,Willwantedtobeindependentso

that he need not feel ashamed of hating his benefactor and adoring hisbenefactor'swife.

'In his letter tome, he asks if he can come and staywith us. I'm sorry,Dorothea, but Iwill tell him that a visit is not convenient at present. I've toomuchworktodo.'

They had not argued since that unpleasantmorning in Rome. Their lastargumenthadbeensodistressingthatDorotheahaddecidednevertoarguewithhim again. Nevertheless, when she spoke, her voice was angry. 'Why do youthinkIwanthimtovisit,ifyoudon'twantit?'

'Idon'twishtoargue,'saidMrCasaubon.Hestartedwritingagain,buthishandwastrembling.

Dorotheatoowentbacktowork.Herhanddidnottrembleasshecopiedthe notes. She was still angry with her husband. They had been working insilenceforhalfanhourwhenDorotheaheardabookfall to thefloor.Lookingup,shesawMrCasaubonwithhishandsonhisheart,asifinpain.Sheleaptupandrantohisside.

'CanIhelpyou,dear?' shesaid,hervoicefullof tendernessandanxiety.Sheledhimtoalargechair.

Justthen,SirJamesandCeliaarrived.SirJamessaid,'Wemustsendforadoctorimmediately!IcanrecommendLydgate.

Doyouwantmetogethim?'Casaubonmadeasilent signofapproval.Ashe left the room,Sir James

thought of howDorothea looked,with her arms around her husband and thatexpression of deep sorrow on her face. 'Ah,what a noble creature she is!' hethought.Hedidnotknowthatshefeltshameandpenitenceaswellassorrow.

***MrCasaubonstayedinbedforthenextfewdays.Lydgatecameoften.On

thethirdday,heaskedifhecouldspeaktoDorotheaalone.Theywentintothelibrarytogether.

'MrsCasaubon,yourhusbandhasadiseaseof theheart,'beganLydgate.Hedidnotwanttodistressher,buthefeltheshouldbehonest. 'Hemightliveanother fifteen years, but only if we are very careful. He should avoid allunnecessary stress and anxiety. He should try to work less and get more

exercise.''Hewouldbemiserableifhehadtogiveuphiswork,'saidDorothea.'I know,' Lydgate replied. 'But we must try to vary and moderate his

occupations.There isno immediatedangerofanotherattack,but,on theotherhand,deathisoftensuddeninthesecases.'

Therewassilenceforafewmoments.Dorothealookedasifshehadbeenturnedtomarble.Finallyshespoke: 'Pleasehelpme,'shesaid; 'TellmewhatIcando.'

'Well,'saidLydgate.'PerhapsyoucantraveltoEuropetogether.Thatmightbegoodforhishealth.'

'Ohno!'saidDorothea,tearsfillinghereyes.'Hedoesnotliketravel.''I'msorrytohavecausedyousuchpain,'saidLydgate.Hesuspectedthat

therewassomedeepsadnessinthismarriage,andhewonderedwhatitwas.'I'mgladthatyouhavetoldmethetruth,'repliedDorothea.'I won't say anything toMr Casaubon. I'll just tell him not to work too

hard.Anxietyofanykindmightmakehimworse.''Oh, you are awiseman, aren't you?' criedDorothea,with a sob in her

voice. 'Youknowallaboutlifeanddeath.Helpme.TellmewhatIcando.Hehas been working all his life. He cares about nothing else. And I care aboutnothingelse-'

Foryearsafter,Lydgaterememberedthisappeal-thiscryfromonesoultoanother.But howcould he help her?All he could dowas say, 'Goodbye,MrsCasaubon.Iwillcomeagaintomorrow.'

That evening, Lydgate told Rosamond about his conversation with MrsCasaubon.'Sheseemstohaveaverystrongfeelingforherhusband,eventhoughheisaformalstudiousmanalmostthirtyyearsolderthanshe.'

'Of course she is devoted to her husband,' said Rosamond. Lydgatewasdelightedthatsheseemedtothinkthatawomannecessarilylovedherhusband.

Atthatmoment,Rosamondwasthinking,'IfMrsCasaubon'shusbanddies,shewillbeaveryrichwoman',butshesaid,'Issheveryhandsome?'

'Shecertainly ishandsome,'Lydgate replied, 'but Ihaven't thought aboutit.'

***Left alone in the library, Dorothea noticed Will's letters lying on Mr

Casaubon'sdesk.Shethought,'Imustputthemaway,sothathedoesn'tseethemwhenhecomesbacktothelibrary.'MrBrookewasatLowickthatday.DorotheagavehimWill's letter toMrCasaubonand said, 'Pleasewrite toMrLadislaw,uncle, and tellhimaboutMrCasaubon's illness.Tellhim thatweare sorryhecan'tcometovisit.'

'Allright,mydear.'MrBrookereadtheletteranddecidedthatWillwasanexcellentwriterandaverycleveryoungman.

MrBrooke,whowasamagistrate,wasthinkingofrunningforParliament.Recently,hehadboughtoneofthelocalnewspapersasavehicleforhisideasonReform.I'llneedacleveryoungmantohelpme,'hethought.'Someonewhocanwrite good speeches and editorials. This young Ladislaw is just the type offellowIneed.'AlthoughMrBrookebeganhisletterwiththeintentionoftellingWillnottocometoMiddlemarch,heendeditbyinvitinghimtostayatTiptonGrange.HedidnottellDorotheawhathehadwritteninhisletter,becausehedidnotthinkthatitwasimportant.

So, severalweeks later,Will came toMiddlemarch and stayed atTiptonGrange.AtfirstDorotheawasanxiousaboutwhatMrCasaubonmightthinkofWillbeingheruncle'sguest,butMrCasaubonsaidnothing.HehadneverlikedWill,andnowhedislikedhimevenmore.

Sometimes Mr Brooke brought Will to Lowick. For Dorothea, Will'scompanywaslikeawindowopenedinthewallofherprison,lettinginfreshairandsunshine.Helistenedtowhatshesaid,andhisownconversationwaslivelyandinteresting.

ButWillwasdissatisfied.HewantedtoseeDorotheaalone. 'Iwillwatchoverher,'hesaidtohimself.'Shewillknowthatshehasoneslaveintheworld!'DanteandBeatricedidnotseeeachotheroften;nordidPetrarchandLaura.Buttimeshadchangedsincethen.Nowitwasbettertohavefewersonnetsandmoreconversation.

***Onemorning,WillwenttoLowickwhenMrCasaubonwasnotthere.The

servant showed him into the library, where Dorothea was sitting alone. 'MrCasaubon is out.Hemaynot be backuntil dinner,' she said, as she shookhis

hand.'Ireallycameinthehopeofseeingyoualone,'saidWill.'Iwantedtotalk

toyou,aswedidinRome.Italwaysmakesadifferencewhenotherpeoplearepresent.'

'Yes,' said Dorothea. 'I enjoyed our conversations in Rome. It seemsstrangetomehowmanythingsIsaidtoyou.'

'Irememberthemall,'saidWill.Hefelt thatshedeservedtobeperfectlyloved. And I think his own feelings at that moment were perfect. He wascompletelyhappyjusttobeinherpresence.

'I'vebeenlearningLatinandGreek,'saidDorothea.'IcanbeofmoreusetoMrCasaubonnow.Butthescholar'slifeisadifficultone.Hisworkmakeshimsotired.'

'Ifamaniscapableofgreatthoughts,he'llhavethembeforeheisoldandtired,'saidWill.Hesawinherfacethathehadsaidtoomuch.'Butit'squitetruethatbrilliantmensometimesmakethemselvesillbyworkingtoohard.'

'Iused to think that,evenwhenIwasa littlegirl. I thought that Iwouldliketohelpsomeonewhowasdoinggreatwork.ThatwaswhatIwantedtodowithmylife.'

'Butyoumustbecarefulofyourownhealth,'saidWill.'Youlookpale.Doyouspendtoomuchtimeinthehouse?MrCasaubonshouldgetasecretarytohelphim.'

'Iwanttohelphim,'saidDorotheaearnestly.'IfIdidn'thelphim,Iwouldhavenothingtodo.Pleasedon'tmentionthatagain.'

'Certainlynot,now that Iknowyour feelings.But I'veheardMrBrookeandSirJamesChettammakethesamesuggestion.'

'Yes,theywantmetoridehorsesanddothethingsthatotherwomendo,'shesaid,impatiently,'butmymindhasotherwants.Ithoughtyouknewthat.'

'Forgiveme.AtonetimeMrCasaubonhimselfwantedasecretary.Infact,heaskedmetobehissecretary.ButIwasnotgoodenough.'

'Youdidn'tworkhardenough?'askedDorothea,smiling.'No. But I have noticed thatMr Casaubon doesn't like anyone to know

exactlywhathe isworkingon.He is toouncertainofhimself. IknowIdidn'tworkhardenough,buttherealreasonhedislikesmeisbecauseIdisagreewith

him.''MrCasaubonpaidforyoureducation,eventhoughhedislikedyou,'said

Dorothea.'That'sadmirable.''Yes.Hehasbeenhonourableaboutthat.Mygrandmotherwasdisinherited

because she married someone her family disliked. Her husband was a Polishrefugee, a teacher. He had nomoney, but he was intelligent. He could speakmanylanguages.Mygrandparentsbothdiedyoung.Myfatherwasverymusical.He taught music for a living, but he never made much money from it. Mymotherwasarebeltoo,likemygrandmotherJulia:sheranawayfromhomeandbecame an actress. I don't remember much about my father, except what mymothertoldme.Irememberwhenhewasdying,andIwasveryhungryandhadonlyalittlebitofbread.'

'Ah!What adifferent life frommine!' saidDorothea. 'I havealwayshadtoomuchofeverything.Tellmeaboutit.'

'My father had written a letter to Mr Casaubon, and that was my lasthungry day.My father died, butMrCasaubon took care ofmymother and I.Well,hehasprobablytoldyouallthishimself.'

'No,'saidDorothea.'Henevertalksabouthisownhonourableactions.Yousee,he'sbeenverygoodtoyou,andnowhe'sill.Trynottodislikehim.'

'I'llnevercomplainabouthimagain,'saidWill. 'I'llneveragaindoorsayanythingofwhichyoudisapprove.'

'That'sverygoodofyou,'saidDorothea,smiling.'Youmakemefeellikeaqueen.Butsoonyou'll leaveMiddlemarch,andIwon'tbeabletoruleyouanymore.'

'Iwanttoaskyouaboutthat.It'soneofthereasonsIwishedtospeaktoyou alone,' said Will. 'Mr Brooke has offered me a position as editor of hisnewspaper. Ifyoudon't think I shouldaccepthisoffer, I'll sayno.But, if youapprove,I'llaccept.Iprefertostayherethangoaway.'

'Ithinkyoushouldstay,'saidDorotheaatonce.Atthatmoment,shesawnoreasonwhysheshouldsayno.

'ThenIwillstay,'saidLadislaw.ButthenDorotheathoughtshehadmadeamistake.Sherememberedthat

herhusband felt differently.Sheblusheddeeply, angrywithherself forhaving

said something that opposed her husband's wishes. 'But my opinion isn'timportant,'shesaid.'YoushouldaskMrCasaubon.'

Hegotuptoleave.HewantedtoaskhernottomentionthesubjecttoMrCasaubon,buthewasafraidtodoso.Shewassohonestandsincere:hedidnotwant her to change. And he was afraid that she might think less of him foraskingit.Sohejustsaidgoodbyeandleftthehouse.

Atfouro'clock,MrCasaubonreturned,lookinghappierthanusual.'ImetDrSpanningtoday,mydear,andhesaidsomecomplimentarythingsaboutmyarticleontheEgyptianMysteries.'

'I'mveryglad,'saidDorothea,delightedtoseeherhusbandsmiling.'It'sapityyouweren'thereearlier.MrLadislawcalled.Hementioned thatmyunclehasofferedhimworkaseditorofhisnewspaper.Doyouthinkheshouldaccepttheposition?'

'DidMr Ladislaw come to askmy opinion?' saidMrCasaubon.All thepleasurethathadbeeninhisfacewhenhespokeofDrSpanningwasgone.

'No,but,whenhementionedmyuncle'soffer,heofcourseexpectedmetotellyouaboutit.'

MrCasaubonwassilent.Thenextmorning,hewrotethefollowinglettertoWill:

DearMrLadislawIhearthatyouhavebeenofferedapositiononaMiddlemarchnewspaper.

If you accept that offer, I will be offended. I have a high social position tomaintain.Editinganewspaperisnot,inmyopinion,honourableandrespectablework. If you accept the position, you will no longer ne welcome to call atLowick.

Yourssincerely,EdwardCasaubon.

MrCasaubondidnottellDorotheaaboutthisletter.

CHAPTERFIVE

Waitingfordeath

Alone in her room that day,Dorothea thought aboutWill's grandmother.She thought that Julia had been disinherited unjustly. The money she shouldhaveinheritedhadgoneinsteadtoMrCasaubon.InthewillMrCasaubonhadwrittenafter theirmarriage,all thatmoneywas left toDorothea. 'Thismustbechanged,'shethought.'IwilltalktomyhusbandandtellhimthatheshouldgiveMrLadislawan incomenowand leavehalf his fortune toMrLadislaw inhiswill.'

Shewasblind,yousee, tomany things thatwereobvious toothers.Shedid not see that this suggestion might make her husband angry. She did notunderstand that her husbandwas jealousofWill. She sawnothingoutsideherownpureintention.

That night, as they lay in bed in the darkness, Mr Casaubon said,'Dorothea,sinceyouareawake,couldyoupleaselightacandleandreadaloudtomeforawhile?'

'MayItalktoyou,instead?'askedDorothea.'Certainly.''I'vebeenthinkingaboutmoneyallday.I'vealwayshadtoomuch.Andin

thefuture,I'llhavemoremoneythanIshould.I'llhavemoneythatshouldhavegonetosomeoneelse.'

'Whatdoyoumean,mylove?''I mean that you've been too generous to me in your will. I've been

thinkingofyourAuntJulia.Shewasleftinpovertybecauseshemarriedapoorman. I'msureyouagree that shewasunjustlydisinherited.ThatwaswhyyoupaidforMrLadislaw'seducation.ButsurelyMrLadislawshouldhavemore-heshouldhavehalfthepropertyyou'veleftmeinyourwill.AndIthinkheshouldhaveanincomenow.It'swrongthathe'spoorwhilewe'rerich.'

'HasMrLadislawspokentoyouaboutthis?'askedMrCasaubon,coldly.'No!' saidDorothea, earnestly. 'Heonly toldmea little abouthisparents

and grandparents. I've come to this conclusion onmy own, and Imust speakaboutit,becauseI'mthepersonwho'llbenefitfromtheinjustice.'

'Dorothea,mylove,'MrCasaubonreplied,inaquietbutangryvoice,'thisis not the first time you have given your opinion about things you don'tunderstand. You shouldn't interfere between me and Mr Ladislaw, and youshouldn'tencouragehimtosaythingstoyouthatarecriticalofmybehaviour.'

Poor Dorothea was full of conflicting emotions. She feared that herhusband'sangermightcausehimtobeillagain,butatthesametimeshefelttheintensity of her own misery. 'How can I bear this nightmare of a life?' shethought,asshelayinthedarkness,unabletogotosleep.

ThenextdayMrCasaubonreceivedthefollowingletterfromWill:

DearMrCasaubon.Youhavebeenverygeneroustomeinthepast,butIdon'tagreewithyou

aboutthepositionMrBrookehasofferedme.Itwillnotmakemerich,butitisnotdishonourablework. Ihavea right to livewhere Iwantanddo theworkIwanttodo.Iamsorryifmyanswerdispleasesyou.

Yourssincerely,WillLadislaw

PoorMrCasaubonwasdisgustedandsuspicious.HefeltsurethatyoungLadislawintendedtomakehimangryandtoturnDorotheaagainsthim.ItwasclearthatWillwantedtostayinMiddlemarchsothathecouldbenearDorothea.MrCasaubondidnotsuspectDorotheaofinfidelity,butheknewthatshelikedLadislaw andwas influenced bywhat he said.MrCasaubon still thought thatDorotheahadaskedheruncletoinviteLadislawtoTiptonGrange.Hehadbeentoo proud to ask her about it, and he was still proud and silent. But he hadforbidden Ladislaw to come to Lowick, and he was planning another way tofrustratehisyoungcousin'splans.

Sir James Chettam was very worried about the management of MrBrooke's farms.Celiahadgivenbirth toasonafewmonthsbefore.SirJamesfeltitwasnowhisresponsibilitytoseethatallthefamily'spropertieswerewellmanaged.MrBrooke'sfarmswereinaterriblecondition.Hisfarmerswereverypoor and discontented. Sir James felt that this was bad for the entireneighbourhood. 'PerhapsDorotheacanpersuadehimtodosomethingabout it,'thought theyoungbaronet.Soonedayhe tookDorothea throughMrBrooke's

estate on her way home from visiting Celia at Freshitt Hall. He explained toDorothea exactlywhatwaswrongwith themanagement of her uncle's farms,thenhesaid,'I'mafraidImustleaveyouatTiptonGrange,butthecarriageIwillcomesoontotakeyoubacktoLowick.'

SoDorotheaenteredheruncle'shouseandfoundhimsittinginthelibrarywithWillLadislaw.Willhadbeenveryboredallafternoon,helpingMrBrooketoorganisehis documents.WhenDorotheawalked in,Will blushed and stoodup.Hefeltasifhehadreceivedanelectricshock.

'Hello,mydear,'saidMrBrooke.'Hownicetoseeyou.'Dorothea kissed her uncle and shookWill's hand. 'Uncle,' she said. 'Sir

Jameshasjustbeentellingmeaboutyourfarms.Hehopesthatyouwillspendsomemoney to improve them and hire a new farmmanager. Tipton could besuchahappyplace,ifitweremanagedmoreefficiently.'

'Yes,mydear,'saidMrBrookenervously,'butI'venoplanstodoanythinglikethatatpresent.'

'SirJamesthinksyou'lldoitbecauseyouarerunningforParliament.Yousay youwantReform and better lives for the commonpeople. If youwant tomake things better, you should start with your own farms. Think of poor KitDownes, who lives with his wife and seven children in a house with onebedroomthesizeofthistable!ThinkoftheDagleyfamily:theirhouseisfullofrats!ThatisonereasonIneverlikedthepaintingshereatTiptonGrange,uncle.I used to come home from the village, which was so dirty and poor, to thedrawing-roomhere,fullofpicturesofsimperingrichpeople.Itseemedtomeanattempt todelight inwhat is false insteadofcaringabout thehard truthofourneighbours'poverty.'

Dorotheaspokewithgreatenergy.Willwasfullofadmirationforher,buthe felt that she was suddenly distant from him. A man is rarely ashamed offeelingthathecannotloveawomanasmuchwhenheseesacertaingreatnessinher.Mostmenfeelthatnatureintendedgreatnessformen.

'Yes,mydear,' repliedMrBrooke, 'but Idon't agreeabout thepaintings.Thefineartsareveryimportant.'

JustthenaservantcameinandtoldMrBrookethatoneofDagley'ssonshadkilledarabbit.

'I'llcomeandtalktohim,'saidMrBrooke,then,lookingatDorothea,he

continued,'I'llbegentlewithhim,don'tworry,mydear,buttherabbitsaremine.Dagley'ssonhasnorighttokilltherabbits.'

WhenMrBrookehadlefttheroom,WillsaidtoDorothea,'MayIspeaktoyou?Thiscouldbemyonlyopportunity.'

'Whatisit?'askedDorothea,anxiously.'DoyouknowthatMrCasaubonhasforbiddenmetocometoLowick?''No, I didn't know. I'm very sorry,' said Dorothea, thinking about the

conversationwithherhusbandinthedarkness.'He did so because he didn't want me to work for Mr Brooke, but I

accepted thepositionanyway.Hehasno right to tellmehow to live.There isnothingdishonourableaboutmyworkforMrBrooke.'

'Wehadbetternottalkaboutit,sinceyouandMrCasaubondisagree,'saidDorothea.

'We'llneverseeeachothernow,'saidWill.'No.ButI'llhearaboutyoufrommyuncle.''Iwon'thearaboutyou.Noonewilltellmewhatyouaredoing.''Oh,mylife'sverysimple.I'malwaysatLowick.''That'saterribleimprisonment!'criedWill,impetuously.'No,don'tthinkthat,'saidDorothea.'I'venodesiresformyself.Ionlywish

Ididn'thavesomuchwhenothershavesolittle.ButIbelievethatifyoudesirewhatisperfectlygood-evenifyoudon'tknowwhatitisandcan'taccomplishit-youarepartofthedivinepoweragainstevil.'

'Thatisabeautifulmysticism-''Don't call it byaname. It ismy religion.What'syour religion? Imean,

whatbeliefhelpsyouthemost?''To lovewhat isgoodandbeautifulwhenIsee it,' saidWill. 'But Iama

rebel:Idon'tfeelobliged,asyoudo,tosubmittowhatIdon'tlike.'***Lydgate andRosamondhad beenmarried. Soon after returning from the

wedding-journey,LydgatewenttoLowick.MrCasaubon had never asked Lydgate or Dorothea how serious his illness

was.Hedidnotwant theirpity.Butnowhewasanxious.Heneeded toknowhow much time he had left to complete his life's work - the Key to allMythologies.Andanotherthingtroubledhimevenmoredeeply:ifhediedsoon,DorotheamightmarryWillLadislaw.Thispossibilitymadehimfurious.

On the day ofLydgate's visit,MrCasaubonwaswalking under the yewtrees in his garden, thinking about his anger and the reasons for it. 'When ImarriedDorothea,'hereasonedtohimself, 'Ihadtotakecareofherwell-beingincaseIdied.I'veleftheralotofmoneyandpropertyinmywill,butthatwon'tsecureherwell-being.Onthecontrary,arichyoungwidowisexposedtodanger.She'llbeeasypreyforanymanwhocanwinheraffection.WillLadislawissucha man. He has no principles. He'll marry her for her fortune and to revengehimselfonme.ShealreadybelievesthathalfthemoneyI'veleftherinmywillis rightly his. He's inconsistent and immoral. If Dorothea married him, shewouldn'tbehappy.It'smydutytopreventherfrommarryinghim.'

WhenLydgatearrived,theservanttookhimtothegarden.LydgatesawMrCasaubonwalking,withhisheadbentforward,deepinthought.LydgatethoughtthatMrCasaubonlookedevenolderandthinnerthanhehadtwomonthsbefore.

'Hello, Mr Lydgate,' said Mr Casaubon. 'Could we walk together hereunderthetrees?Iwishtodiscusssomething'important.'

'Certainly,'Lydgatereplied.'I'vebeenworkingonabookformanyyears.Thiswork,whichhastaken

upmostofmyadult life, isvery important tome. Indeed, Ihope itwillbeanimportantcontribution tomyfieldofstudyasawhole. Imightdiebefore it ispublished.Ifso,Iwouldliketoleaveitinsuchastatethatitcouldbepublishedaftermydeathby-others.'

HereMrCasaubonpaused.'Youwishmetotellyouhowseriousyourillnessis?'askedLydgate,trying

tohelp.'Yes.Iwanttoknowthetruth.''ThenIwillbeperfectlyhonestwithyou,MrCasaubon.Yousufferfrom

degenerationoftheheart.Deathisoftensuddenfromthisdisease.Ontheotherhand,youcouldlivecomfortablyforanotherfifteenyears.'

Mr Casaubon was grateful for Lydgate's plain speech. He knew it wasintended as a sign of respect. 'Thank you,MrLydgate,' he said. 'I've just one

morequestion.DidyoutellMrsCasaubonthis?''Yes,'repliedLydgate.HewantedtoexplainwhyhehadtoldDorothea,but

MrCasaubonsaidbegantotalkabouttheweather.***Dorothea noticed that her husbandwasmore thoughtful than usual. She

decided tovisitMrLydgate to askhimabout his recent conversationwithMrCasaubon.ButwhenDorothea arrived atLydgate's house, the servant toldherthathewasnotin.

'IsMrsLydgateathome?'askedDorothea.'CouldIspeaktoherforafewminutes?'Shecouldhearmusiccomingfromanopenwindow:apianoplayingandaman'svoice.ThenthemusicstoppedandtheservantcamebackandaskedDorotheatofollowhertothedrawing-room.

Rosamond was very surprised and pleased to see Mrs Casaubon. Shealways liked to talk to the gentry and to feel that they accepted her. On herwedding-journey,shehadmetherhusband'suncleSirGodwinLydgate,andhehadbeenverynicetoher.Shewasgladthattodayshewaswearingoneofhermost elegant and fashionable dresses.Dorothea herselfwas dressed plainly inwhite.

'Hello, Mrs Lydgate,' said Dorothea, looking admiringly at Lydgate'slovelybride. 'I'msosorrytointerruptyou.IwishtotalktoMrLydgate.CouldyoutellmewhereIcanfindhim?'

JustthenshenoticedthatWillLadislawwasstandinginthecorneroftheroom.'Oh!Hello,'shesaid.'Ididnotexpecttoseeyouhere.'

'Myhusbandisatthenewhospital,'saidRosamond.'Icouldgoandtellhimthatyouwishtospeaktohim,'saidWilleagerly,

comingforward.'No,thankyou,'saidDorothea.'Iwillgoandspeaktohimthere.Asthecarriagedroveoff,Dorotheathoughtaboutherownbehaviour.She

had left the Lydgates' house very quickly. One reason was that she felt sheshouldnottalktoWill,becauseherhusbanddidnotwishhertodoso.Buttherewasanotherstrongerreason.ShewassurprisedtoseeWillLadislawpassinghistimesingingwithMrsLydgateinherhusband'sabsence.ThensherememberedthatWillhadpassedtimewithherundersimilarcircumstances,sosurelythere

was nothing wrong with it. But Will was Mr Casaubon's relative. As MrCasaubon'swife, shewas expected tobekind tohis cousin.Nevertheless, shenowsawthatMrCasaubonhadbeendispleasedbyhiscousin'svisitsinhisownabsence. 'PerhapsIhavebeenmistaken inmany things,' saidpoorDorothea toherself,andtearscameintohereyes.Shefeltconfusedandunhappy.

Back inMrsLydgate'sdrawing-room,Will feltmortified.HischancesofmeetingDorotheawererare,buthewishedshehadnotseenhiminRosamond'sdrawing-room, passing his time among the Middlemarch middle classes,enjoyingthecompanyofthecharmingandmusicalMrsLydgate.Willstooduptoleave. 'It isalwaysfatal tohavemusicorpoetry interrupted,'hesaid. 'CanIcomeanotherday?'

'Certainly,' said Rosamond. 'You must admit that the interruption was averybeautifulone.Issheveryclever?'

'Ineverthoughtaboutit,'saidWill.That'sexactlywhatTertiussaidwhenIaskedhimifshewerehandsome.

Whatdoyougentlementhinkofwhenyou'rewithMrsCasaubon?''Herself,'saidWill. 'Whenoneseesaperfectwoman,oneneverthinksof

hercharacteristics-oneisconsciousofherpresence.''I'll be jealous when Tertius goes to Lowick,' said Rosamond, smiling.

'He'llcomebackandthinknothingofme.''That hasn't been her effect on him up to now. Mrs Casaubon is very

differentfromotherwomen.Oneneverthinksofcomparingthemwithher.'That evening, when Lydgate came home, Rosamond said, 'Mr Ladislaw

washeresingingwithmewhenMrsCasauboncamein.Heseemeddistressed.Doyou thinkhedislikedher seeinghimatourhouse?Surelyyourposition isequaltohis.'

'No,' Lydgate replied. 'If hewas really distressed, itmust have been forsomeotherreason.Ladislawdoesn'tcareaboutsocialdistinctions.'

'He'sagoodsinger,buthewasn'tverypleasanttome.Doyoulikehim?''Yes.Ithinkheisagoodfellow.He'sabitofadilettante,butIlikehim.''IthinkheadoresMrsCasaubon.''Poordevil!'saidLydgate,smilingandkissinghiswife'shand.

'Whydoyousaythat?''When a man falls in love, he neglects his work and spends too much

money.''I'msureyoudon'tneglectyourwork,'saidRosamond.'Ihavegreatambitions,Rosy,andI'msureyouwantmetobesomething

betterthanaMiddlemarchdoctor.''WhatdidMrsCasaubonwanttosaytoyou?''She askedme about her husband's health.But thenwe talked about the

newhospital,andI thinkshe isgoing togiveus twohundredayear. Isn't thatsplendid?'

***AfterhisconversationwithLydgate,MrCasaubonbeganthefinalstageof

hisresearch:decidingwhichofhisnotestoputinthebookandwhichtoomit.Everyevening,Dorotheareadaloudfromhisnotes,whileherhusbandwalkedbackandforwards,saying'Thatwillgointhebook'and'Wewillomitthat.'

Dorotheawastiredandsad.Thisworkseemedsohopelesstoher.Onenight,justbeforetheywenttosleep,MrCasaubonsaid,'Dorothea,ifI

die,willyoucarryoutmywishes?'Dorotheawasnotsurprised.Shehadrealised,duringtheselastfewdaysof

intense work, that he wished her to prepare the Key to All Mythologies forpublicationafterhisdeath.Shedidnotanswerimmediately.

'Doyourefuse?'heasked,coldly.'No.Idon'trefuse,'saidDorothea,'butIcan'tpromisetodosomethingifI

don'tknowwhatitis.''I'maskingyoutotrustmyjudgement:yourefuse.''No,dear,no!'criedDorothea.'ButcanIthinkaboutitforawhile?Idesire

withallmysoultocomfortyou.Pleasegivemetime.I'llansweryoutomorrow.''Untiltomorrow,then,'saidMrCasaubon.Soonshecouldhearthathewassleeping,butshecouldnotsleep.Shelay

awakethinkingofall thedaysandmonthsandyearsofworkherhusbandwasasking her to do. She no longer believed that the Key to All Mythologiescontained important truths. Despite her poor education, she could see more

clearlythanheinthismatter.Althoughshefeltverysorrythatherhusbandhadwastedhislifeonthisdryandemptywork,nowshebegantofeelmoresorryforherownfuturethanforhispast.Andyet,howcouldsherefuse?'Ifhelivesforfifteenmore years,' thoughtDorothea, 'I'll certainly spend those years helpinghimwithhiswork.SohowcanItellhimthatIwon'thelphimafterhisdeath?He'ssufferedsomuch;howcanIaddtothedisappointmentofhislife?'

For hours Dorothea lay in this conflict, until, in the early hours of themorning, she finally fell asleep.When she awoke,Mr Casaubon was alreadydownstairs.

As Dorothea went to the library, she thought, 'I'll promise to do as hewishes,butlatertoday,notnow.'

Whensheenteredthelibrary,MrCasaubonsaid,'Goodmorning,mydear.I'mnotfeelingwellthismorning,soIwon'twork.I'lltakeawalkundertheyewtreesinstead.'

'I'mgladtohearthat.Youseemedsoanxiouslastnight.Youneedtorest.''Ihopeyoucancalmmyanxiety,Dorothea,bygivingmeyouranswer.''I'llcometoyouinthegardensoonandgiveittoyou,'saidDorothea.WhenMrCasaubonhadgoneout,Dorotheasatforawhileinthelibrary.

Shefeltthatshewasgoingtosacrificeherownlifeinthispromise.Finally,shewentoutintothegarden.Whenshecametotheyewtrees,shecouldnotseeherhusband.Thenshesawhim,sittingatastonetable.Hisarmslayonthetableandhisheadonhisarms.Shethought,'Howtiredheis!'

Shewalkeduptohimandsaid,'HereIam.I'mready.'Hedidnotreply.Shethoughthemustbeasleep.Sheputherhandonhis

shoulderandrepeated,'I'mready.'Stillhedidnotreply.Shecriedoutindistress,'Wakeup,dear.I'vecometogivemyanswer.'

ButDorotheanevergaveheranswer:herhusbandwasdead.Later that day, Lydgate sat by her bed. Shewas talking deliriously. She

knew that Lydgate was there. She seemed to think it was right to explaineverythingtohim.Shetoldhimallherconflictingthoughtsofthenightbefore.Againandagain,sheaskedhimtoexplaineverythingtoherhusband.

'TellhimI'llgo tohimsoon: I'mready topromise.But thinkingabout itwassoterrible.Itmademeill.Notveryill.I'llbebettersoon.Goandtellhim.'

ThedayafterMrCasaubon's funeral,Sir JamesandMrBrookestood inthelibraryatLowick.Dorotheawasstillillinbed.

'Iwishshedidn'thavetoknowaboutthis,'saidSirJames,indisgust.'Wewon'ttellheruntilsheiswellagain.Assoonasshe'sabletomove,we'lltakehertoFreshittHall.BeingwithCeliaandthebabywillbethebestthingintheworldfor her. Meanwhile, you must get rid of Ladislaw. Tell him he must leaveMiddlemarchimmediately.'

'HowcanIdothat?'askedMrBrooke.'Mydearsir,'saidSirJamesangrily, 'youbroughthimhere,andyougive

himtheworkthatkeepshimhere!''Yes,butIcan'tdismisshimwithoutgivingareason.Ladislaw'sworkhas

beenverygood.''It'sunfortunate thatheevercamehere.Casaubonbehavedverybadly in

writingthisnewpartofhiswill.ItwasameanactionandaninsulttoDorothea!Casaubonwasclearly jealousofLadislaw.Theworldwill think thatDorotheagave him some reason to be jealous. It was mean and ungentlemanly ofCasaubontolinkDorothea'snamewiththisyoungfellow'sinthewill.'

'I don't think it's that important,' said Mr Brooke. 'Anyway, sendingLadislawawaywon'tstopgossip,youknow,' saidMrBrooke. 'IcoulddismissLadislaw from his work on the newspaper, but I can't force him to leaveMiddlemarchifhedoesn'twanttogo.Besides,Dorotheadoesn'twanttomarryLadislaw.'

'Casaubon'swill says that, if shemarries Ladislaw, shewill get none ofCasaubon'smoney.Thatwillmakeeveryonethinkthatshedoeswanttomarryhim.Idon'tbelievethatshedoes,butIsuspectLadislaw.'

'IfIsendhimaway,'saidMrBrooke,'peoplewillthinkthatwedon'ttrustDorothea.'

'Isupposethat'strue,'saidSirJames.MrBrookewaspleasedtohavewontheargument.Theelectionwasnotfaraway.HeneededLadislawtohelphiminhiselectioncampaign.

No gossip about Mr Casaubon's will reached Ladislaw. Everyone wastalkingaboutthecomingelection.WillLadislawwasverybusypreparingforit.AlthoughDorotheawasalwaysinhisthoughts,hedidnotlikepeopletospeaktohimabouther.WhenLydgatementionedher tohim,Will replied, 'I never see

MrsCasaubon,andIamnotlikelytoseeherinfuture.'Will noticed that Mr Brooke invited him to Tipton Grange much less

frequentlythanbefore.HeconcludedthatDorothea'sfamilywantedtokeephimawayfromher. 'Theysuspectmeoftryingtowinthefavourofarichwoman,'thoughtWill. 'But I'll show them that they aremistaken. I'mdivided fromherforever.'

HethoughtofleavingMiddlemarchtoprovethathewasnotthefortune-huntertheythoughthimtobe.Buttheelectionwascoming,andWillbelievedinReform.HewantedtohelpMrBrookegetelectedandthentomakesurethatheactuallyvotedinParliamentfortheReformAct.Willhadworkedsohardtodothisthathecouldnotleavenow.

Mr Bulstrode lived with his wife at The Shrubs, a fine house inMiddlemarch.Oneevening,asMrBulstrodewasstandinginhisgarden,hesawastrangemaninblackclotheswalkingupthepath.Asthemanapproached,MrBulstrodewentpale. 'Hello,Nick!' cried theman. 'Doyou rememberme?'Hesoundedalittledrunk.

'CertainlyIrememberyou,MrRaffles,'saidBulstrode,quietly.'I still recognise you, though twenty-five years have changed us both!

Comeandshakemyhand.'Reluctantly,thepalebankershookthehandofthisloudred-facedman.'I see you've given up the London business and become a country

gentleman,'saidRaffles.'Theoldladymusthavediedalongtimeago.Isupposesheneverknewhowpoorherdaughterwas.GoodLord,Nick,you'repale!Let'sgointothehousetogether.'

In the evening of his life, Mr Bulstrode had thought of penitence assomething private between himself and God. He had done many charitableworkstocompensateforhisyouthfulsins.Butnowthishorriblefigurehadcomefromhispast,perhapstohumiliatehimpubliclyandexposehissinstotheworld.

'Pleasedon'tcallme"Nick".Wewereneverintimateinthepast,'saidMrBulstrode,coldly.

'Ah!' replied Raffles. 'I always called you "Nick" in my heart and inmemory.Myfeelingsforyouhavematuredlikefineoldcognac.Ihopeyou'vegotsomeinthehousenow.'

Theyreachedthehouse,andMrBulstrodetoldtheservanttotakecareofhisguest.WhenhewasalonewithRaffles in thedining-room,Bulstrodesaid,'We don't like each other, Mr Raffles, so you'd better leave here as soon aspossible.You'rewelcome to stay thenight, but tomorrowmorningyou shouldtellmewhatbusinessbringsyouhereandthenleave.'

'I'llgladlystaythenight,'saidRaffles.'Imightevenstaylonger.It'saniceplace.'

'Whydidn'tyoustayinAmerica?'askedBulstrode.'Ithought,whenIgaveyouthemoneytogo,thatyouwantedtospendtherestofyourlifethere.'

'Ididspendtenyearsthere,butIdidn'tlikeit.Iwon'tgoback.''Doyouwantmetofindworkforyou?''No, thank you. I'm not as strong as I oncewas. I want an independent

income.''Ifyoupromisetostayawayfromme,I'llgiveyouone,'saidBulstrode.'I don't promise anything,' repliedRaffles. 'Years ago, youmade a lot of

money from my silence. I could've told the old woman that I'd found herdaughterandgrandchild.Youpaidmevery little formysilence then.Nowtheoldwoman is dead, and you have all hermoney. I looked for SarahDunkirkagain,lateron,thoughIdidn'ttellyou.Idiscoveredherhusband'sname.Whatwas it now? Something beginning with an "L"... Anyway, I don't promiseanything.I'mafreeman,andI'llreturnifIwantto.Whydon'tyougivemetwohundredpounds?ThenI'llgoawaytomorrow.'

MrBulstrodeagreedtogivehimthemoneythenextmorning.AsRafflesbegantoeathisdinner,hesuddenlyrememberedthename.'That'sit!'hecried.'Ladislaw!'

The next morning,Mr Bulstrode gave Raffles two hundred pounds andwatchedinreliefasthecoachtookhimawayfromMiddlemarch.

CHAPTERSIX

Thewidowandthewife

WhenDorotheahadbeenatFreshittHallforaweek,Celiatoldheraboutthe newpart ofMrCasaubon'swill.Dorothea blushed deeply thenwent pale.Thenewsseemedtomakeeverythingdifferent.Hehusbandhadkeptsecrethistruefeelings.ShehadneverthoughtofWillLadislawasapossiblelover.Nowsheknewthatherhusbandhadthoughtofhiminthatlight,andshewonderedifWillhimselfhaddoneso.CeliadidnotnoticehowmuchthenewshaddistressedDorothea. She continued playingwith the baby and talking: 'I never likedMrCasaubon,Dodo,andneitherdidSirJames.Nowthatheisgone,youshouldtrytoenjoylifemore.'

Just then, Lydgate came in. 'How are you,MrsCasaubon?You look ill.Hassomethingdistressedyou?'

Celiasaid, 'Shewants togo toLowick to lookatherhusband'spapers. Idon'tthinksheshouldgo,doyou?'

'I thinkMrs Casaubon should do exactlywhat shewants to do,' repliedLydgate.

'Thank you,' said Dorothea. 'I get anxious sitting here, doing nothing.ThereissomuchformetodoatLowick.'Thenshebegantocry.

Before he left Freshitt Hall, Lydgate asked to see Sir James. 'Let MrsCasaubondoasshelikes,'hesaid.'Sheneedsperfectfreedom.'

Dorotheawent toLowick and looked through allMrCasaubon's papers.Whenshe sawherhusband's instructions for thepublicationof theKey toAllMythologies,shewroteanotetohimandlockeditinherdesk:

I couldn't follow these instructions. Don't you see now that I couldn'tsubmitmysoultoyoursbyworkinghopelesslyatsomethingIdon'tbelievein?

Dorothea.

NowtherewasnolivingmanforDorotheatopity.Besides,shenowknewthatMrCasaubonhadbeensecretiveandsuspicious.Shewishedthatshecouldrenouncethepropertyhehadleftherinhiswill,butshefeltthatpropertywasa

responsibilitythatsheshouldnotignore.For three months, Dorothea stayed at Freshitt Hall, but made frequent

visits toLowick.During that time the electionswere held.DespiteLadislaw'shardwork,MrBrooke lost the election.His reputation as a bad landlord hadmadehimmanyenemiesinMiddlemarch.Hedecidedtogiveuppoliticsandsellthenewspaper.

Shortlyafter theelection,Dorotheamovedback toLowick. 'Shewillgetdepressed living alone in that miserable house,' said Mrs Cadwallader. 'Shereallyshouldgetmarriedagainassoonaspossible.'

TherealreasonforDorothea'sreturntoLowickwasherdeepdesiretoseeWillLadislaw.Onemorning,shewassittinginthedrawing-room,lookingoutofthewindow,whenTantrippenteredandsaid,'MrLadislawishere,Madam.'

'Bringhimin,please,'saidDorothea.WhenWillwalked into thedrawing-room,Dorotheablusheddeeply.She

feltthatthismeeting-whichshehadwantedsomuch-wastoodifficult.Bothofthemwerenervousandagitated.

'IamleavingMiddlemarch,'saidWill. 'Iwantedtosaygoodbyetoyou.Ihopeyoudon'tmindmecominghere.'

'I'mgladyoucame.AreyouleavingMiddlemarchimmediately?''Verysoon.I'mgoingtostudylawinLondon.Ilikepoliticalwork,andI

want to be qualified to do it. Other men have won honourable positions forthemselveswithoutthehelpoffamilyconnectionsandmoney.'

'Thatmakesitallthemorehonourable,'saidDorothea.'Myunclesaysyouspeak in public verywell and that you care about justice for everyone. I'm soglad.WhenwewereinRome,Ithoughtyouonlycaredforpoetryandart.'

'SoyouthinkIshouldgoawayfromhereandstayawayforyears,untilIhavesucceededinsomeprofession?'

Shedidnotanswerimmediately.Shelookedoutofthewindowattherosesin the garden. She assumed that Will had heard about Mr Casaubon's meanaction.Shethought,'Heneverfeltanythingbutfriendshipforme.'

Finally, she replied, 'Yes. I'll be happy to hear that you have found aprofession. But you must be patient. It could take a long time.' Her voicetrembledalittle.

'You'llforgetaboutme,'saidWill.'No,I'llneverforgetyou,'shesaid,smiling.Willblushedand leaptup. 'GoodGod!' he criedpassionately.He looked

almostangry.Hewantedtotellherthathelovedher,buthecouldnot. 'OtherswillthinkIwanthermoney,'hesaidtohimself.'Iwon'tletthemthinkthat.AndI'mafraidofwhatshemightthink.'

Justthen,SirJamesarrived.'Imustsaygoodbye,MrsCasaubon,'saidWill,and,bowingtoSirJames,

heleftquickly.***Rosamondwasexpectingababy.Lydgatewasverygladtohearthenews,

although itmeantmore expenses.Hewas findingmarried life very expensiveindeed.Rosamondlikedeverythingtobethebest.

He told Rosamond that she should stop horse riding, now that she wasexpecting a baby. But Rosamond was used to doing what she liked. In June,Lydgate'scousincametostaywiththem.Rosamondwasverypleasedtohaveabaronet'ssonasherguest.CaptainLydgatewasveryattentivetoRosamondandpaidhermanycompliments.ItgaveRosamondgreatpleasuretobeadmiredbyother men as well as her husband. Fortunately, Tertius was not a jealoushusband,andoftenheleftheralonewiththeCaptain.

'Whydon'tyoutalktotheCaptainmore?'askedRosamondoneday,whentheywerealone.

'Because,mydearRosy,theman'safool,'repliedLydgate.'AskLadislawwhathethinksoftheCaptain.Hehasalmoststoppedvisitinguseversincethatmancamehere.'

Rosamond thought she knewwhyMrLadislaw disliked theCaptain: hewasjealous.Thisthoughtpleasedherverymuch.

Oneday, theCaptainaskedRosamond togo ridingwithhim.Rosamondagreedtogo.Shedidnottellherhusband,butsheenjoyeditsomuchthatshetoldhimafterwards.Shesaidsheplannedtogoagainthefollowingday.Lydgatewasfurious.'Youshouldn'thavegoneriding,andyouwon'tdoitagain,Rosy,'hesaid firmly. Itwasa statement,notaquestion,and therefore requiredno replyfromRosamond.Shewaspleasedthatshehadnotmadeapromise.

ThenextdayshewentoutwithCaptainLydgateagain.Rosamond'shorsewas frightenedby the soundofa falling tree, and shewas frightened too.Shebecame ill and lost the baby. In all future conversations on the subject,Rosamondwascertainthathorseridinghadmadenodifference.'IfI'dstayedathome,Iwouldhavelostthebabyanyway,'shesaid.

'Poordarling!'saidLydgate,buthewasamazedattheterribletenacityofthisdelicatecreature.Hefelthehadnopoweroverher.Affectiondidnotmakeherobedient.Shedidwhateversheliked.

SoonRosamondwas ingoodhealthagainand lookingas lovelyasever.Lydgatestoppedworryingaboutherandreturnedtootherworries.Hewasverydeeplyindebt.Hecouldnotaskhisfather-in-lawforhelp:MrVincyhadmoneytroublesofhisown.LydgatedecidedtotellRosamondabouttheirdebts.Itwascleartohimthattheyhadtolivemoremodestlyfromnowon.Rosamondlikedto give parties, and everything she bought was of the very best. He had toexplaintoherthattheymusteconomise.

One evening,Lydgate said, 'Rosy, I've something unpleasant to tell you.We'reindebt.Ifwedon'tlivemoremodestly,we'llgetmoreandmoreintodebtastimegoeson.'

Rosamondwassilent fora fewmoments.Finally, she lookedathimandreplied, 'What can I do, Tertius?' For a moment, Lydgate remembered whenDorothea, speaking of her sick husband, had used almost the samewords butwith such a very differentmeaning: 'Helpme.Tellmewhat I can do.He hasbeenworkingallhislife.Hecaresaboutnothingelse.AndIcareaboutnothingelse-'

Lydgatefeltsad.Rosamond'sreplyhadsoundedsodistant,soindifferent.Butshewasnotindifferent:shehadspentherlifedreamingofbeautifulthings.The idea thatshecouldnothave the thingsshewantedshockedanddistressedher.Tearscameintohereyes.

'I'msorry,Rosy.It'sallmyfault,'saidLydgate.'WemustleaveMiddlemarch,'saidRosamond.'Let'sgotoLondon.''Wecangonowherewithoutmoney,'Lydgatereplied.'Yourunclewillhelp

us.''No,Rosy.Youmusttakemyjudgementonthingsyoudon'tunderstand.I

don'texpectanyhelpfrommyuncle,andIwon'taskhimforhelp.'

Rosamondsatperfectlystill.'We'll have to return someof the silver to the shopwherewebought it,'

saidLydgate.'Ihopethatwewillnothavetosellthefurnitureandthehouse,butthattoomayhappenifwearenotcareful.Come,darling.Trynottoworry.Wecansolvetheseproblems.'

EversinceRaffleshadtoldhimthenameofSarahDunkirk'shusband,MrBulstrode had beenwonderingwhat he should do. For days he thought aboutRaffles and about the sins in his own past. Finally, he wrote a letter toWillLadislaw,askinghimtocometoTheShrubsthatevening.Willwasnotsurprisedto receive this invitation. He assumed Bulstrode wanted to talk about somebusinesstodowiththeelection.

'I invited you here, Mr Ladislaw,' began Bulstrode, 'to discuss a veryprivatematter.Ihaveaconfessiontomaketoyou.ImakeitonlybecauseIwillbejudgedbyGod.Humanlawcannottouchme.'

Ladislawhadalwaysbeen sensitiveon thequestionof thehonourofhisfamily.HewasnowafraidofwhatBulstrodemighttellhim.

'Is it true that your mother's name was Sarah Dunkirk and that she ranawayfromherfamilytobecomeanactress?'

'Yes,'repliedWill.'Doyouknowanythingaboutyourmother'sfamily?''No,''SarahDunkirk'smotherbecamemywife,' saidBulstrode. 'Shewas rich,

and,whenshedied,sheleftallhermoneytome,becauseshecouldn'tfindherdaughter.Isyourmotherstillalive?'

'No,'saidWill,standingupasif toleave.Hefeltsuddenlyangry.Hedidnotwanttohaveanyconnectionwiththisman.

'Please sit down, Mr Ladislaw,' said Bulstrode, anxiously. 'I wish tocompensateyou-togiveyoutheinheritanceyourmotherneverreceived.Iamnotobligedtodothisbylaw:Iamdoingitmerelyasanactofconscience.'

'Didyouknowwheretofindmymother?'saidWill.Bulstrodeturnedpale.Hehadnotexpectedhisgenerousoffertobemetin

thisway.'Yes,Idid.ButnowI'mpenitentandwishtodotherightthingbeforeGod.Iassumethatyouwillacceptmyoffer,MrLadislaw.'

Will looked at him angrily. 'Before I reply, I want to know what mygrandmother'sbusinesswasandwhymymotherranawayfromhome.'

'It was a shop,' said Bulstrode, nervously, 'a pawnbroker's shop. Sarahthought that it was a dishonourable business. That's why she ran away fromhome.'

'Shewasright,'criedWill.'Itisadishonourablebusiness!'Bulstrodeblushedwithanger.Hehadbeenprepared forhumiliation,but

thiswastoomuch.Thisyoungman,whohehadhopedtohelp,wasactinglikeajudge.

'My honour is important tome,' saidWill. 'And now I find that there isdishonourinmyfamily.Mymotherranawayfromit,andsowillI.Irefuseyouroffer.Goodnight,sir.'

As the weeks passed, Lydgate's money worries got worse, and thepossibility of being forced to sell the house and the furniture grewmore andmorelikely.PoorRosamondhadfoundmarriageverydisappointing.Beforetheyweremarried,shehadseenLydgateasaromanticstranger.Shehadthought,'IfImarry him, he'll make my life delightful'. But in fact married life was notdelightful:itwasfullofeverydaydetailsthatwerenotwhatshehadwishedandhoped.Hisscientificstudiesseemedtoherasinistervampire'soccupation.Shefelt thatherhusbandhadmanaged thingsbadly, and she thought thatherownjudgementwassuperiortohis.

Until he had left the neighbourhood four months before, Ladislaw'scompany had been pleasant and exciting for her, but now he was gone.Rosamondfeltboredwithouthim.ShedreamedofaninvitationtoSirGodwinLydgate'shouse.ShedreamedofalifeinLondonwithnomoneyworries.

Finally,shedecidedtotakeaction.Withouttellingherhusband,shewrotea letter to Sir Godwin, explaining their troubles and asking for help. Aweeklater,Lydgatecameintothedrawing-roomwithaletterinhishand.Hisfacewaspalewithanger.

'Ican'tlivewithyou,ifyouarealwaysdoingthingsIaskyounottodo!'hecried,handinghertheletter.

Rosamondtoochangedcolourassheread.DearTertius.Don'tgetyourwifetowritetomewhenyouwantsomething.

Ithoughtyouhadmoredignitythanthat.Icannotfiveyouathousandpoundsor

evenhalfthatsum.MyownfamilyusesupallmymoneyIhavealwayswishedyouwell,butnowyoumustconsideryourselfcompletelyindependentfromme.Youraffectionateuncle,GodwinLydgate

'This is not the first time this has happened, Rosamond,' said Lydgateangrily. 'Time and time again, I have expressed a wish, you have seemed toacceptmywish,andthenyouhavesecretlydisobeyedme.'

Rosamondsatinsilence,waitingforhisangertopass.Noargumentcouldpersuadeherthatshehaddonesomethingwrong.Inherownview,shewastheinnocent victim of unpleasant circumstances. Lydgate thought of their futuretogether.'Shewillstoplovingme,'hethought.'Howsadourlifetogetherwillbethen!'

Finally,shelookedathimwithtearsinhereyes.'Ionlytriedtohelp,'shesaidgently. 'It'sveryhardtobedisgracedhere,amongallthepeopleweknow,andtoliveinsuchamiserableway.IwishIhaddiedwiththebaby.'

HergentletearsandwordstouchedLydgate'sheart.Heputhisarmaroundher. 'Itismuchmoredifficultforherthanitisforme,'hethought. 'Shehasnolifeoutsidethehome,asIhave.'Hewishedtoexcusehereverythingifhecould,buttoexcuseherwasalsotothinkofherasanotherandweakerspecies.

Nevertheless,shehadmasteredhim.***Will's departure fromMiddlemarch had been delayed, but now, after his

meetingwithBulstrode,hefinallypreparedtoleave.ThenherememberedthathehadleftsomeofhissketchesatTiptonGrange.HerodeouttogetthemonhislastdayinMiddlemarch.

Thatmorning,DorotheawenttoFreshittHalltoseeCeliaandSirJames.Mrs Cadwallader was there too, repeating all the gossip she had heard inMiddlemarch. 'EveryoneistalkingaboutMrLadislaw,'shesaid. 'HespendsallhistimesingingwithMrsLydgatewhileherhusbandisatwork.'

'Thatisnottrue!'criedDorothea.'Oratleastitisamisrepresentation.Idonotwant tohearpeoplespeakingevilofMrLadislaw.Hehasalreadysufferedtoo much injustice.' As she spoke, she blushed deeply, and her lips began totremble.Then,calmingherself, shestoodup. 'Anyway,' shesaid, 'Imust leavenow.I'mgoingtoTiptonGrange.Goodbye.'

As shedrovealong in thecarriage, theworld seemedsuddenlyuglyand

horrible.Hereyesfilledwith tears. 'It'snot true!'shecried,althoughshecouldnot forget the day she had foundWill withMrs Lydgate and heard his voiceaccompaniedbythepiano.

WhenshegottoTiptonGrange,theservanttoldherthatherunclewasoutbutMrLadislawwasinthelibrary.

Dorotheaenteredthelibrary,shookhishand,andsatdown.'I'mverygladtoseeyou,'shesaid.'IthoughtyouhadleftMiddlemarchweeksago.'Hervoicetrembledalittle.

'Afterourlastmeeting,Idiscoveredthingsthathavechangedmyplansforthefuture,'saidWill. 'WhenIlastsawyou,I thoughtImightcomebacksomeday.ButnowIdon'tthinkIevershall.'

'Didyouwanttotellmethereasons?'sheasked,timidly.'Yes,'Willreplied.'SinceIsaidgoodbyetoyou,IhavefoundoutaboutMr

Casaubon'swill.It'saterribleinsult.I'mnotafortune-hunter.Therewasnoneedtoprotectyoufromme.Thefactthatyouarerichwasprotectionenough.'

'Iknow,'saidDorothea.He walked to the window. She rose and came up to him there, but he

turnedandwalked toanotherpartof the room.Dorotheawashurtby this.Heseemednolongertolikeandtrustherashehadalwaysdoneinthepast.

'Imustgo,'hesaid.'Imustgoandlivesomewhereelse,withouthappinessorhope.WhatIcareformorethananythingelseisforbiddentome.Idon'tjustmeanforbiddentomebyothers.Imeanforbiddentomebymyownprideandhonour.I'llgoonlivinglikeamanwhohasseenheaveninadream.'

Dorotheacouldnotbesurethathewastalkingabouthisrelationwithher.Perhaps he was talking about his relation withMrs Lydgate. Perhaps he wasconfidinginherasafriend.

Willwasnotsurprisedbyhersilence.Helongedforanassurancethatshelovedhim,butheknewshecouldnotsayso,evenif itwere true.Theyshookhands,andhewalkedtowardsthedoor.

'Pleaserememberme,'saidDorothea,withasobinhervoice.'Why do you say that?' askedWill, irritated. 'I'm in danger of forgetting

everythingelse.'Andhewalkedoutoftheroom.Dorotheasatdown.Herheartwasbeatingfast.Helovedher!

Nowsheknew it for certain.Shewas filledwith joy.At thatmoment itwaseasiertosaygoodbye.Theknowledgeoflovingandbeinglovedmadeherforgethersadnessandfeelstrong.

CHAPTERSEVEN

Atemptation

Lydgate'sonlyhopewastogetaloanfromBulstrode.Hedidnotwanttodo this, because he disliked the banker and knew that most people inMiddlemarch disliked him. Until now, he had considered himself totallyindependentofBulstrode.HisworkatthenewhospitalhadbeendonebecauseLydgate himself was interested in charity and public health. But with theseterribledebts,hecouldnolongerbeindependent.

BulstrodeaskedLydgate tocome tohisofficeat thebank todiscuss thenewhospital. 'I amno longeryoung,MrLydgate, andmyhealth isnotgood,'said thebanker, 'so I'mgoing to retire fromsomeofmybusiness interests. I'llmoveawayfromMiddlemarch,toaplacebythesea.It'llbebetterformyhealth.I'll also retire from the management of the new hospital. I've talked to MrsCasaubon,andshesaysthatshemighttakeovermypartinthefinancingofthehospital.'

'I'm sorry to hear that you are leaving the hospital,' said Lydgate. 'YouknowthattheotherMiddlemarchdoctorsdisagreewithmymethods.Withyoursupport, Iwas able to treat fevers as I thought they shouldbe treated.That isespeciallyimportant,nowthatwehaveacaseofcholeraintown.'

'Nevertheless, I can't give any further financialhelp to thehospital,' saidBulstrode.

LydgatethoughtthatBulstrodemusthavemoneyproblemsofhisown,butaskingthebankerforaloanwashislasthope,andsoheexplainedaboutallhisdebtsandaskedforaloanofonethousandpounds.Bulstrodesaidthathecouldnothelp.HeadvisedLydgatetogobankrupt.

Lydgate felt that the banker had no human sympathy, but in fact MrBulstrodewastoopreoccupiedwithhisownworriestohelpanyoneelse.Inthepast fewmonths, Raffles had come back toMiddlemarch several times. Eachtime, Raffles went into Middlemarch and got drunk in the public houses.Bulstrodewasafraid thatRafflesmight tellhissecrets in town,sohegave themanmoneytogoaway.

The day before, Raffles had come back to The Shrubs. He was ill. MrBulstrode put him to bed in his own bedroom. He told his wife that he was

taking care of amiserable creature, the victim of vice, as an act of Christiancharity. The fever hadmade Raffles delirious: he was speaking plainly aboutthosefactsinthepastthatBulstrodewantedtokeepsecret.Bulstrodewasafraidthatsomeonemighthear,sohesatbythesickman'sbedandallowednooneelsetoentertheroom.Hesatupallnight,praying.

When Bulstrode returned from the bank after his conversation withLydgate,Raffleswasworse.Illnesshadchangedhim:insteadofbeingloudandsarcastic, hewas now timid and frightened.Bulstrode sent a note to Lydgate,asking him to come to The Shrubs. Sitting by the bed, waiting for Lydgate,Bulstrode thought that perhaps God intended to save him from disgrace andhumiliationafterall.Rafflesmightdie.Bulstrodeprayed:'Thywillbedone'.

When Lydgate arrived, Bulstrode spoke to him outside the room. 'I'veasked you to come, Mr Lydgate, because an unfortunate man is here and isseriouslyill.HisnameisJohnRaffles.Heworkedformemanyyearsago.Ifeelit'smydutytohelphim.'

Whenhehadthoroughlyexaminedthepatient,LydgatespoketoBulstrodeinprivateagain.'Hemuststayinbed.Someoneshouldwatchhimallthetime.'

'I'llwatchhim.''Haveyounoservantwhocoulddoit?''Yes. I haveMrandMrsAbel, but theyare inexperienced. I'llwatch the

patient,andtheycanhelpmeifnecessary.''Allright.ThenI'llgivemyinstructionstoyou,'saidLydgate.'Don't give him any alcoholic drinks. He'll ask for them, but you must

refusehim.''Itisserious?'askedBulstrode.'I'mnotsure.Hewasastronghealthymanbeforehefellill.Ifyoufollow

myinstructions,heshouldgetbetterinafewdays.Ontheotherhand,hemightgetworse.We'llhavetowaitandsee.I'llcomeagaintomorrowmorning.'

AsLydgaterodeaway,hethoughtaboutthetreatmentofcasesofalcoholicpoisoningsuchasthis.MostdoctorsinBritainatthetimebelievedthatpatientswiththisillnessshouldbeallowedtodrinkalcoholandbegivenlargedosesofopium.Lydgatewascompletelyagainstthistreatment.Wheneverhehadtreatedcases of alcoholic poisoning in the past, he had forbidden alcohol and opium,

andhispatientshadgotbetter.Lydgate did not wonder why Bulstrode was taking care of Raffles. He

supposed that the sick man was the object of Bulstrode's Christian charity. 'IwishhehadthesamefeelingsofChristiancharityforme!'hethought.Hewasonhiswayhome to tellRosamond that his last hopeof paying the debtswasgone.Shehadtoldhimthat,ifthefurniturehadtobesold,shewouldgobacktoher father's house. As he rode along, Lydgate thought how different thesetroubleswouldbe,ifhehadalovingcompaniontosharethem.

Bulstrodesatbythesickman'sbed,deepinthought.He,wantedRafflestodie, but he intended to do nothing to cause that death.He intended to followLydgate'sinstructionsexactly.

Now he deeply regretted having refused to give Lydgate a loan thatmorning.IfhehadgivenLydgatetheloan,Lydgatewouldhavefeltobligatedtohim.WhatifRafflesspokedeliriouslywhileLydgatewasthere?

The next day, Lydgate came at noon. Bulstrode noticed that the doctorlookedpaleandtired.Raffleswasworse:hehadrefusedtoeat,andhehadnotslept:hehadbeenawake,feverishanddelirious,allnight.

'I thinkweshouldgivehimalittleopium-verylittle- just tomakehimsleep,' said Lydgate. 'Give him three drops of opium every half hour for twohours,thenstop.Itisveryimportantthatyoustopaftertwohours.Don'tlethimdrinkanythingalcoholic,andmakesure thedoseofopiumisexactlyas I toldyou.'

'Youyourselfarelookingill,MrLydgate,'saidBulstrode.'Itoldyouofmytroublesyesterday,'saidLydgate,coldly.'Yes.I'vethoughtaboutyoursituation,andI'vedecidedtohelpyou.Ithink

yousaidthatyouneedathousandpounds.Ifyouwaitamoment,I'llwriteyouachequeforthatamount.'

'Thankyou,MrBulstrode,'saidLydgate,suddenlyfullofjoyandrelief.AsherodehometotellRosamondthegoodnews,hedidnotwonderwhyBulstrodehadchangedhismind.

At sixo'clock,BulstrodegaveRaffles the first doseofopium, followingLydgate'sinstructionsexactly.Halfanhourlater,hecalledMrsAbel.

'Will you please sitwith the patient tonight,MrsAbel? I'm very tired. I

mustsleep.''Certainly,sir,'saidMrsAbel.'WhatshouldIgivehim?''Givehimthreedropsofopiumeveryhalfhour.Givehimsouporwaterif

heasksforit.Ifyouneedanyhelp,callyourhusband.'MrBulstrodewentdownstairs.HewasnotworriedthatRafflesmighttalk

inMrsAbel'spresence:theopiumhadmadehisspeechincoherent.Hesatinthedrawing-roomforalongtime,thinkingaboutRaffles.Suddenlyherealisedthathe had not toldMrsAbelwhen to stop giving the opium toRaffles.Hewentupstairs,thinking,'Perhapsshehasalreadygivenhimtoomuch.I'mtired.It'snotsurprising that I forgot part of Lydgate's instructions. Should I go tomy ownroom,orshouldItellMrsAbelwhentostopgivinghimtheopium?'Hepausedin the corridor by the door to the room. He could hear the sick man talkingincoherently. 'Perhaps,' thought Bulstrode, 'Lydgate is wrong. Perhaps moreopiumwillhelpRaffles.'MrBulstrodewentintohisownbedroom.

Afewminuteslater,MrsAbelknockedonMrBulstrode'sbedroomdoor.'Excuseme,sir.ShouldIgivethepoormansomecognac?Hesaysthatnothingelsewillsavehim.Hesayshe'lldiewithoutit.AndIremember,sir,thatwhenmymasterMrRobinsonwasill,thedoctorsaidtogivehimcognacallthetime.'

MrBulstrodedidnotanswerimmediately.ThenhegaveMrsAbelakeyandsaid,'Thereisplentyofcognacdownstairsinthewinecellar.'

The next morning, when Lydgate arrived, Raffles was clearly dying.Lydgatewasdisturbedabout thecase.HadBulstrode followedhis instructionsexactly?LydgatedidnotwanttoaskBulstrodethatquestion:itseemedlikeaninsult. And Bulstrode was Lydgate's benefactor. An hour later, Raffles died.'Well,' thoughtLydgate, 'theman isdead.There isnopoint in implying that itwassomeone'sfault.Afterall,myinstructionsmighthavebeenwrong.'

Five days after the death of Raffles, three Middlemarch men - MrBambridge,MrHawleyandMrHopkins-werestandingoutsidetheirfavouritepublic house when Mr Bulstrode walked by. 'That reminds me!' said MrBambridge. 'When Iwas in the village of Bilkley lastWednesday, I heard aninteresting story about Bulstrode. Do you know how he got his money? Hemarriedanoldwomanwhenhewasyoung.He lether think thatherdaughterandgrandchildweredead,eventhoughheknewtheywerealive.Then,whentheoldwomandied,hegotallhermoney!'

'Whotoldyouthat?'askedMrHawley.'AdrunkenoldmaninthepublichouseatBilkley,'saidMrBambridge.'Whatwashisname?'askedMrHawley.'Raffles.''Raffles?' criedMrHopkins, the undertaker. 'I did his funeral yesterday!

Bulstrodewasthere.HisservanttoldmethatRafflesdiedinBulstrode'shouse.''Didanydoctorseehim?'askedMrHawley.'Yes.Lydgate,'saidMrHopkins.Othermen,hearingthattheconversationwasinteresting,joinedthegroup

tolistentothegossip.'LydgateandBulstrodehavealwaysbeenclose,'saidMr"Bambridge.'Idon'tlikeLydgate,andIdon'ttrusthismethods,'saidMrHopkins.'Our

doctor, Dr Sprague, says that these modern methods are dangerous. Andespeciallynowthatthere'scholerainthetown,weneeddoctorswecantrust.'

'Iheardthatthere'sgoingtobeatownmeetingtodiscussthecholera,'saidMrBambridge.'Areyougoing?'

'Certainly,'saidMrHopkins.'Allthemenintownwillwanttobetheretodiscusshowwecanpreventthecholerafromspreading.'

'Do you know that Lydgate has paid all his debts?' said Mr Hawleysuddenly. 'Iheardityesterday.Theyweregoingtotakeallhisfurniture,butatthelastmomenthefoundthemoney.'

'Yes,' saidMrHopkins. 'I heard that.My brotherworks in the bank.HesaidthatMrBulstrodegaveLydgatealoan.'

'That sounds bad,' saidMrBambridge. 'PerhapsBulstrode gave LydgatethemoneytokeepquietaboutthedeathofthisfellowRaffles!'

All themen listeningagreed that thiswasprobably true.And from therethegossipspreadthroughMiddlemarchlikefire.

***Thenextdaytherewasatownmeetingtodiscussthecholera.Allthemen

ofMiddlemarchwere there.WhenBulstrode andLydgate entered themeetingtogether,peoplestoppedtalkingandlookedatthem.Themeetingbegan,andMr

Bulstrode asked if he could speak on the subject of a new cemetery. Thechairmansaidyes,butjustthenMrHawleyroseandsaid,'Beforeanyonespeaksabout the cemetery, I would like to speak about another subject, which I andmanyofthepeopleofMiddlemarchconsiderveryimportant.'

Mr Bulstrode sat down, and Mr Hawley continued, 'Many of us inMiddlemarchthinkthatMrBulstrodeshouldresignfromthepublicpositionsheholds. There are certain actions which, though not illegal, are as immoral asmany illegal actions. I ask Mr Bulstrode to deny, if he can, the scandalousstatementsmadebyamannowdead,whodiedinhishouse.Thatman-knownasJohnRaffles-claimedthatMrBulstrodegothismoneydishonestly.'

EveryoneintheroomlookedatMrBulstrode,whohadturnedverypale.Formanyyears,MrBulstrodehadbeenapowerfulpersoninMiddlemarch.Hehadoftencriticisedotherpeoplefortheirsinfulways.Hehadactedasthoughhehimself were the perfect example of Christian virtue. Now, he was beingpublicly humiliated. God had not, after all, decided to spare him. God hadabandoned him and left him exposed to these roughmenwho hated him andtookpleasureinhishumiliation.

Lydgate heard the accusationswith alarm, but, as a doctor, hewas evenmorealarmedbyBulstrode'spalefaceandtremblinghands.Thebankerstooduptospeak:'Thepeoplewhoareattackingmearedoingsonotbecausetheywantjustice but because they hate me. They have always hated me, because Icriticisedthemfortheirsinfullives.Theyspentall theirmoneyonsin,whileIspentmineoncharitableworks.'

ManyvoiceswereraisedindisapprovalofBulstrode'sspeech,butonewaslouderthantherest:'Ifyoumeanme,sir,'criedMrHawley,'Ineverpretendedtobeasaint,asyoudo.AgainIaskyoutoexplainordenytheaccusationsmadeagainstyou!'

The chairman turned to Bulstrode and said, 'I think that, because MrHawley and his friends have asked it, you should offer an explanation of thethings of which you have been accused. If you wish, I will listen to yourexplanationlatertodayinprivate.Now,Imustaskyoutoleave,sothatwecancontinuethemeeting.'

After a moment's hesitation, Bulstrode took his hat from the floor andslowlyrose,butheseemedabout to fall.Lydgate feltsure that thebankerwasnotstrongenoughtowalkoutonhisown.Whatcouldhedo?Hestoodup,took

Bulstrode'sarm,andhelpedhimoutof the room. Itwasanactofcompassionthathedidnaturally,asamanandasadoctor,butheknewthat thosepresentsawhimasBulstrode's friend and ally.Heknew that, by helpingBulstrode atthatmoment,hewasseparatinghimself from theothermen in the room.PoorLydgatecouldnowseeexactlywhat theothermenofMiddlemarchthoughtofhim: they thought that he had taken a bribe to keep silent about the death ofRaffles.

CHAPTEREIGHT

Sunsetandsunrise

Thatevening,DorotheahaddinnerwithMrBrooke,SirJamesandCelia.MrBrooke,who had been at themeeting, told everyone thewhole sad story.Dorothea listened with deep interest, and asked her uncle to repeat the partsinvolvingLydgate.WhenMrBrookehadfinished,shesaid, 'Youdon'tbelievethatMrLydgate has done anythingwrong, do you? I don't! Let's find out thetruthandprovehisinnocence!'

'Let'snotbetoohasty,mydear,'saidMrBrooke.'WemusthelpMrLydgate,'shesaidearnestly.'Wemusttelleveryonethat

webelievehimtobeinnocent!Ican'tbeindifferenttothetroublesofamanwhohelpedmeinmytroubleandinmyillness.'

'But,Dorothea,'saidSirJames,'wedon'tknowthatheisinnocent.''Oh,howcruel!'criedDorothea.'Don'tyouwanttobetheonepersonwho

believes he's innocent,when everyone else thinks he's guilty?Our neighboursalmostalways think thatwe'reworse thanwereallyare. Idon't thinkhecouldpossiblyhaveacceptedabribe.IwillaskMrLydgatetotellmethetruth,sothatI canhelphim. Iwill takeMrBulstrode's place at thenewhospital.Whenhetellsmethetruth,wecanallhelphimoutofthistrouble.'

'It'struethatawomancansometimesshowsympathywhenamanmustbemorecautious,'saidMrBrooke.

'Surely a woman should be cautious too and listen to those who knowbetterthanshedoes,'repliedSirJames.

Later,when the sisterswere in thedrawing-roomalone,Celia said, 'YoumustlistentoSirJames,Dodo,otherwiseyouwillgetintotrouble.Youalwaysdidandyoualwayswillgetintotroublewhenyoufollowyourownideas.'

Dorothea's eyes filled with angry tears. She felt that every generousimpulseshehadwasfrustrated.

***LydgatedidnottellRosamondwhathadhappenedatthetownmeeting.'If

Itellher,shewillbeindifferenttomysuffering,'hethought. 'ShewillsaythatI'vemadeherlifemiserable.'Hecouldnotbeartoseethatcolddistantlookon

herfaceashetoldherhistroubles.As soon as the debts were paid, Rosamond felt better. But she was not

happy.Hermarriedlifewasnotwhatshehadhoped.Lydgatewasverygentletoher,butsherememberedthethingshehadsaidtoherwhenhewasangry.Theyhadoffendedherdeeply.Shefeltthathermarriagewasafailure.

Often she thought of Ladislaw. 'If I hadmarried him, everythingwouldhavebeendelightful,'shethought.SheknewthatheadmiredMrsCasaubonverymuch,butshewassurethathelovedhermore.Inherfantasies,Willhadagreatpassionforher.'HewillreturntoMiddlemarchtobenearme,'shethought.'Hewillnevermarry.Hewilllivenearbyandadoremealways.'

A few days before the memorable townmeeting,Will wrote a letter toRosamondandLydgate:'IamcomingbacktoMiddlemarchforabriefvisit,'hewrote. 'Ihope Iwill stillbewelcome inyourdrawing-room. I lookforward toourmusic.'

AsLydgatereadtheletteraloudtoher,Rosamondsmiled.'MrLadislawiscoming back, and the debts are paid,' she thought. 'Now everything will bepleasant.'

A few days later, she sent out invitations to a party. She did not tellLydgate, because she knew he would say that a party cost too much money.'Whentheinvitationshavebeenaccepted,'thoughtRosamond,'I'lltellhim.'Butall the invitationswererefused.Lydgatewas looking through thepostonedayandsawthelastreply.

'Why is Chicheley writing to you?' he asked, handing her the letter.Rosamondopened it and showed it to him. 'Whydid you sendout invitationswithouttellingme?'criedLydgate,furious.

Shesaidnothing.'Doyouhearme?''CertainlyIhearyou,'saidRosamond.Afraid that he might become violent, Lydgate walked out of the room.

Rosamondthoughtthathewasgettingmoreandmoreintolerable.Shewonderedwhyallthepeopleshehadinvitedhadrefusedtheinvitations.Infact,shenowrealised that none of her friends and family had talked to her for the last fewdays.Sheputonherhat andcoat andwent immediately toher father'shouse,andhetoldhereverything.

Thatevening,shesatpaleandsilentinthedrawing-room.'Haveyouheardanythingthatdistressesyou,Rosamond?'askedLydgate.

'Yes,'sheanswered.'Whathaveyouheard?''Everything,Isuppose.Papatoldme.'Therewasasilence.Lydgatethought,'Ifshehasanytrustinme,sheought

tospeaknowandsaythatshebelievesIaminnocent.'But Rosamond said nothing. She thought that he should be the first to

speak.Heshouldsayhewassorryforcausinghersuchpainanddisgrace.Shehadnoideawhetherornothewasguilty.Ifhewasinnocent,whydidhenotdosomethingtoproveit?

Thatsilencemadethemmorealienatedfromeachotherthantheyhadeverbeenbefore.

***Afewdayslater,DorotheareceivedaletterfromBulstrode,askingherto

discussthenewhospitalwithLydgate.ShehadnotcontactedLydgate,becauseSirJamesdidnotwishhertodoso.ButnowthatBulstrodehadaskedher,shewas eager to talk to Lydgate. She longed to help him. Her own life seemedemptynow,andshewantedabovealltohelpothers.AsshewaitedforhiminthelibraryatLowick,shethoughtofallthetimesinthepastwhenshehadtalkedtoLydgate.She rememberedhishelpandcomfortwhenherhusbandwas ill andafterhisdeath.SherememberedthatonestrangeoccasionwhenshehadfoundLadislawsingingwithMrsLydgate,andshewonderedwhatLydgate'smarriagewaslike.

Whenhecamein,shenoticedthechangeinhisface. 'Iwantedtotalktoyou days ago, Mr Lydgate,' she said, 'but I waited until I heard from MrBulstrode again about the newhospital. I'm thinking of takingMrBulstrode'splaceasmainbenefactorofthehospital,andIhopeyou'llcontinuetomanageit.'

'Imayhave to leaveMiddlemarch,MrsCasaubon,' saidLydgate.He feltthathecoulddonothing thatwentagainstRosamond'swishes,andRosamondwantedabovealltoleaveMiddlemarchandescapethedisgrace.

'Notbecause there isnoone tobelieve inyou?'askedDorothea. 'Iknowthat people havemisinterpreted your actions. Themoment I heard about it, I

knewthattheywerewrong.You'veneverdoneanythingdishonourable.''Thankyou,'saidLydgateinatremblingvoice.Noonehadyetexpressed

belief in his innocence. These few words of trust from a woman were veryimportanttohim.

'Pleasetellmewhathappened,'saidDorothea.'I'msurethetruthwillproveyourinnocence.'

For the first time in his life, Lydgate trusted entirely in someone else'sgenerosityandsympathy.Hetoldhereverything.

'I'msosorry,'saidDorothea,whenhehadfinishedspeaking. 'Iknowyouwanted todogreat thingswithyour life. It's so sadwhen someone tries todogreatworkandfails.I'llexplain,everythingtoallthepeopleIknow-SirJamesChettam andMrBrooke and other influential people inMiddlemarch. They'lllistentome.ThenyoucanstayinMiddlemarchandworkatthenewhospitalasbefore.Eventhoughonlyafewpeoplewillbelievethatyouareinnocentatfirst,graduallyotherswillbepersuaded.Thenperhapsyou'llbeable todothegreatworkyouwanted todo, and the townwillbeproudofyou,' sheendedwithasmile.

Lydgatehesitated for amoment, thenhe said, 'Why shouldn't I tell you?Youknowwhatmarriageis.You'llunderstandeverything.'

Dorothea feltherheartbeginning tobeat faster.Didhehave that sorrowtoo?

Lydgate continued: 'I can't do anything without considering my wife'shappiness.Iwouldliketodoasyousuggest,ifIwerealone,butit'simpossible.ShewantstoleaveMiddlemarchShecan'tbearthedisgrace.'

'Butifsheunderstoodthegoodthatmightcomeifyoustayedhere-''Shewon'tunderstandit,'repliedLydgate.'Infact,thistroublehasmadeit

difficultforustospeaktoeachotherI'mnotsurewhatshethinks.ShemaythinkIhavereallydonesomethingevil.It'smyfault.Ioughttobemoreopen.'

'MayIgoandseeher?'saidDorothea,eagerly.'Oh,pleasedo,'saidLydgate.'It'llpleasehertothinkthatyoustillrespect

me. She'll feel honoured by your visit. I ought to have told her everythingmyself,but-'

Hestoppedspeaking,andtherewasamoment'ssilence.Dorotheadidnot

saywhat shewas thinking - that she knewverywell the difficulties husbandsandwivessometimeshaveintalkingtoeachother.

Insteadshesaid, 'Iwill talk toMrsLydgateandexplainourplans toher,thenyoucancontinueatthenewhospitalanddotheworkyoualwayswantedtodo.'

'No,'saidLydgate.'Ican'tletyouputmoneyintoaprojectthatdependsonme.I'msounpopularinMiddlemarch,thattheprojectissuretofailifImanageit.Besides,Ican'tdoanythingforalongtimeexcepttrytoearnanincome.'

'Itmakesmesadtohearyoutalksohopelessly,'saidDorothea.'Ihavealotofmoney - toomuchmoney. I couldgiveyouan income.Thenyoucoulddoyourgreatwork.'

'Godblessyou,MrsCasaubon!'saidLydgate,risingfromthegreatleatherchairinwhichhehadbeensitting.'You'reverygenerous,butIcan'tprofitfromyourgenerosity. Imust leaveMiddlemarchand look for thekindofwork thatwill earnmoney. Imustdoasothermendo. I'll look forwork inLondon. I'lltreat thediseasesof richpeopleandgetwellpaid for it.That's the life Imustlive.'

'Itisnotbravetogiveupthefight,'saidDorothea.'No, it is not brave,' he replied. 'But you have given me courage by

believinginme.'AsherodeawayfromLowick,Lydgatethought,'Thisyoungcreaturehas

aheartbigenough for theVirginMary.She feels friendship formen - Ineversawthatinawomanbefore-andamancanbefriendswithher.Iwonderifshecouldeverfeelpassionforaman?Realpassion-notthefeelingsshehadaboutCasaubon.Ladislaw?Well,herlovemighthelpamanmorethanhermoney.'

***Thatdayandthenext,Dorotheaspentalotoftimethinkingabouthervisit

toRosamond. For her, the image ofMrs Lydgate had always been associatedwith Will Ladislaw. She had always believed that Will was innocent of anywrongdoing. At first, when he had said he was going away, she had thoughtperhapshewasleavingtoescapethetemptationofRosamond.Dorothea,tryingtofindexcusesforhim,hadoftenthoughtofhowlovelyMrsLydgatewasandhowshesharedhisinterestinmusic.Perhapsshesharedhisothertastesaswell.But his finalwords to her,when she had last seen him atTiptonGrange, had

convincedherthatsheherselfwastheoneheloved.Shehadbeendelightedbyhis delicate sense of honour, his determination that no one could criticise himjustly.ShenowfeltsurethathisrelationswithMrsLydgatewereinnocent.

ThenewsaboutBulstrodehaddamagedWill'ssocialposition.Thegossipin Middlemarch was that 'young Ladislaw is the grandson of a thieving Jewpawnbroker!'ThishadmadeDorotheawishtodefendhim,butshefeltthatthedeeper relation between them must be kept secret, and so she had remainedsilent.

Withthesethoughtsinmind,DorotheawenttoLydgate'shouseoneclearspringmorning.Shehada letterforLydgate, inwhichsheofferedto lendhimmoneysothathecouldpayhisdebttoBulstrode.Thelettercontainedachequeforonethousandpounds.

TheLydgates'maidwaswashingthestepsoutsidethefrontdoor. 'IsMrsLydgatein?'askedDorothea.

'I'm not sure, my lady' said the maid. 'Please come in and wait in thedrawing-room.I'llgotolookforher.'

Dorotheafollowedthemaidtothedrawing-room.Themaidpushedopenthe door without saying anything or looking inside. Dorothea entered thenstoppedsuddenly,horrifiedbywhatshesaw.Sittingonthesofa,speakingsoftly,wasWillLadislaw.

Rosamond sat closebesidehim.Her facewas turnedup tohis.Shewasblushing,andhereyeswerefulloftears.Willwasholdingbothherhandsinhis.

Whentheynoticedher,RosamondandWillstoodupquickly.'Excuseme,MrsLydgate,theservantdidn'tknowthatyouwerehere,'said

Dorothea.'IjustcametoleavealetterforMrLydgate.'Dorotheaputtheletteronasmall tableandquickly left thehouse.Shegot intohercarriageand told thedrivertogotoFreshittHall.

She was paler than usual, but she felt full of energy. Her anger andcontempt made her energetic. What she had seen was so despicable - so farbelow her idea ofWill Ladislaw - that she felt repelled and disgusted. Thesefeelingsmadeherheartbeatfastandgaveherunusualenergy.Shespentthedayas she had planned to spend it - going to Freshitt andTiptonGrange to raisesupportforLydgate.

Rosamond andWill stood motionless for a long time. He stared at the

placewhereDorothea had stood.She looked anxiously at him.She knew thatWill was deeply distressed by what had happened, yet she was sure that shecouldcomforthim.Shetouchedhisarm.

'Don'ttouchme!'criedWill,angrily.Rosamondsatdown,offended. 'YoucaneasilyfollowMrsCasaubonand

explainyourpreferencetoher,'shesaid.'Howcanamanexplainattheexpenseofawoman?Shewillneverlisten

toawordIsayagain.Ihadnohopebefore,butIwassurethatshebelievedthatIwasgood.Whateverpeoplesaidaboutme, shebelieved inme.Butnowshewillhateme.Explainmypreference?Ineverhadapreferenceforher,anymorethanIhaveapreferenceforbreathing.Nootherwomanexistsbyherside.'

WhenWill finished speaking, her lips were pale. She was an image ofmisery.ItwasnowcleartoherforthefirsttimethatWilldidnotloveher.Herlittleworldwasinruins.IfTertiushadseenherfacethen,hewouldhavetriedtocomforther.Willfeltnosuchpity.Heknewthathewasbeingcruel,buthedidnot care. He felt that Rosamond had ruined the ideal treasure of his life. Hepicked up his hat to leave, but he could not go without saying something tosoftenhisangrylastwords.Hethought,'Imightbecometrappedbythishelplesssadwomanwhohasofferedherselftome.'

Finallyhesaid,'ShallIcomeandseeLydgatethisevening?''Ifyoulike,'Rosamondrepliedinatremblingvoice.Thenheleftthehouse.WhenWillwasgone,Rosamondwentupstairsandlayonthebed.Shetold

themaidthatshefeltill.WhenLydgatecamehome,hesatbesideherandheldher hand. She looked at him with more interest than usual, as if she werecomfortedbyhispresence.

'MypoorRosamond,'hesaid.'Hassomethingagitatedyou?'Sheputherheadonhisshoulderandbegantocry.Forthenexthourhedid

nothingbutcomforther.HethoughtthatDorotheahadcometovisitherandthatRosamond'sagitationwasaresultoftheirconversation.

Thatevening,WillcametoseeLydgate.LydgatetoldhimthatRosamondwasill,thenhetoldhimofallthetroublestheyhadhadinMiddlemarchsinceWillhadleft.AsLydgatespoke,Willimaginedaterribledullfutureinwhichhe

becameRosamond'sloverandsobetrayedhisfriendLydgate.Hehadbeencruelto Rosamond, and now felt an obligation to comfort her. His life had beenruined,andhecaredverylittleaboutwhathappenedtohimnow.

***AloneinherroomatLowickthatnight,Dorotheacriedout,'Oh,Ididlove

him!'She satup all night,weepingand sobbing in anguish.Her finewoman'sbodywasshakenbysobs.ShecriedforthelossofWill-thebrightcreatureshehad trusted throughall her troubles.She laydownon the cold floor and criedherselftosleep.

Inthecoldhoursofearlymorning,shewokeup,exhaustedandsorrowfulbut calm. Shewrappedwarm things around her and sat in a big chair by thewindow.She thought about yesterdaymorning, examining every detail and itspossiblemeaning. 'Iwas not alone in that scene,' she thought. 'Itwas notmyexperienceonly.'ShehadgonetoLydgate'shouse,hopingtohelpRosamond.Inherangeranddisgust, shehadabandoned that idea.ButDorotheawasnot thekindofwomantohateherrivalmorethanherfaithlesslover.Shehadastrongsenseofjustice.AllhersympathyforLydgateandhiswifereturnedtohernow.Theirmarriage- likeherown-haditssecret troubles. 'Myownmiseryshouldmakememoreeagertohelpothers,'shethought,'insteadofmakingmepassiveandindifferent.Thisisacrisisinourlives-notonlyinmylifebutalsointhelivesofthosethreeothers.WhatcanIdotosavethem?'

Ithadtakenheralongtimetocometothatquestion.Shelookedoutofthewindowandsawthatthesunwasrising.Shesawamanwalkingdowntheroadwithabundleonhisbackandawomancarryingherbaby.Inthefieldshesawashepherdandhisdog.Shethought,'Theworldisbigandfullofpeoplewholiveandworkandsuffer.Iamapartofthatlife.'

ShecalledTantripp.'Pleasebringmesomecoffee,Tantripp,'shesaid.'Andmy new dress.' By eight o'clock, she was walking to Middlemarch to seeRosamond.

Lydgatemetherat thedoorandhandedhera letter. 'Iwanted toputmythanksinwriting,'hesaid.

'Youhaveaccepted?'sheasked,anxiously.'Yes.IwillsendthechequetoBulstrodetoday.'Lydgatewent towork, andDorothea followed themaid to the drawing-

room.Rosamondstoodinthemiddleoftheroom,lookingpaleandnervous.Shewondered why Mrs Casaubon had come to see her. She was sure that MrsCasauboncouldfeelnothingbutanimosityforher.Rosamondpreparedtomeetthat animosity with cold polite passivity. But, when she entered the room,Dorothea put out her hand to shakeRosamond's.Her face, though sad, had asweet open expression. Rosamond realised thatMrsCasaubon's state ofmindmustbecompletelydifferentfromwhatshehadimagined.

'I wanted to talk to you yesterday about the injustice Mr Lydgate hassuffered,'saidDorothea.'Ihopeitwillmakeyoufeelbettertoknowthathehasfriendswhobelieveinhim.'

'Iknowyouhavebeenverygood,'saidRosamond,realising,withsurpriseandrelief,thatDorotheawasnotgoingtomentionWill.

'Twodaysago,whenhecametoLowicktodiscussthenewhospital,MrLydgatetoldmeeverythingthathappenedinconnectionwithMrBulstrodeandMrRaffles.HetoldmebecauseIaskedhim.Ibelievedthathehadneveracteddishonourably,andIaskedhimtotellmeeverything.Heconfessedthathehadnever explained it to anyone, not even to you.' Dorothea told Rosamond thewholestoryasLydgatehadtoldittoher.

Whenshehadfinished,Rosamondblushedandsaid,'Thankyou.Youareverykind.'

'He feels sorry that he never explained all this to you, but I hope you'llforgivehim.Ithurtshimmorethananythingthathismisfortunesmusthurtyou.Hecould speak tomebecause Iwasn't involved,andbecauseheknows that Ihadtroublesinmyownmarriage.SothenIaskedhimifIcouldcomeandseeyou.That'swhyIcameyesterdayandamhere today.Trouble issodifficult tobear.Wemusthelpeachother.'Herfacebecameanimatedasshespoke,andshelaid her hand on Rosamond's. Rosamond, overcome with emotion, burst intotears.

Dorothea had needed a great deal of self-control to speak toRosamond.Herownsorrowwasstillunbearablypainful.Nowsherealisedthatshehad,atthatmoment,averystronginfluenceoverthefragilecreaturecryingbyherside.'Thismightbeaturning-pointinthreelives,'thoughtDorothea,tryingtocontrolherself and keep back her own tears. 'My life is ruined.Nothing can be doneabout that. But their lives can be rescued from the misery of mistakenrelationships.'

Rosamond's distress was even deeper than Dorothea imagined. She hadassumedthatDorotheafeltnothingbutjealousyandhatredforher.NowitwasclearthatDorotheahadfeelingsthatshe-Rosamond-hadneverimagined.Shefeltasifshewerewalkinginanunknownworld.

ShelookedatDorotheaopenlyandwithoutembarrassment,witheyeslikeblueflowers.Whatwastheuseofthinkingaboutbehaviouranddignityafterthiscrying?Dorothea looked almost as childish,with tears in her eyes. Pridewasbrokendownbetweenthesetwo.

'Marriage is such a terribly close relationship,' began Dorothea, timidly.'Evenifwelovesomeoneelsemorethanourhusband,it'snouse.Weneedallourpoweroflovingforthemarriage.Ifwelovesomeoneelse,thatmurdersthemarriage-andthemarriagestayswithuslikeamurder-andeverythingelseisgone.'Shefellsilent,afraidthatshehadsaidtoomuch.Shewasalsoafraidofsoundingasifsheherselfwereperfect.'Iknow,Iknow-theotherlovemaybevery strong - itmay seem likedeath topartwith it - andweareweak - I amweak-'Shestoppedinspeechlessagitation.Herfacewasverypaleandherlipstrembled.SheheldbothRosamond'shandstightlyinherown.

Rosamond suddenly kissed Dorothea on the forehead. For a minute thetwowomen put their arms around each other like two people in a shipwreck.'Youarethinkingsomethingthatisnottrue,'saidRosamond.'Whenyoucameinyesterday,itwasnotasyouthought.Hewastellingmethathelovedyouandhecouldneverloveme.AndnowIthinkhehatesmebecauseyousawhimwithmeyesterday.Hetoldmeyesterdaythatnootherwomanexistsforhimbesidesyou.NowIhavetoldyou,soheshouldn'tbeangrywithmeanymore.'

Dorotheafeltanemotiontoostrongtobecalledjoy.Theysattogetherinsilenceforawhile.

That evening, Lydgate said to Rosamond, 'What do you think of MrsCasaubonnow,Rosy?'

'I think she is better than anyone,' said Rosamond, 'and she is verybeautiful. Ifyou talk toheroften,youwillbemorediscontentedwithmethanever!'

Lydgate laughed and touched her hair. 'But has she made you any lessdiscontentedwithme?'

'I think she has,' said Rosamond, looking at him. 'How tired you look,

Tertius.'Hefeltthankfulforthislittlesignofinterest.NowRosamondhadcomebacktohim,andhewastheretoofferherprotection.Hehadchosenthisfragilecreature and had taken the burden of her life in his arms. He must carry itcarefullyfortherestofhislife.

***Afewdayslater,DorotheawassittinginthelibraryatLowick,lookingout

ofthewindowatthestormysky,whenTantrippcamein.'MrLadislawishere,Madam.''Showhimin,Tantripp,'saidDorothea,herheartbeatingfast.Willenteredthelibraryandsaid,'Iamsogratefultoyouforseeingme.''Iwantedtoseeyou,'saidDorothea.'Ifearyouthinkmefoolishandperhapswrongforcomingbacksosoon,'

saidWill.'Youknow-everyoneknowsnow-apainfulstoryaboutmyfamily.IknewitbeforeIwentaway.Iwantedtotellyouaboutit.MrBulstrodeofferedmeanincome,butIrefusedit.Ididn'twantanincomefromhim.Iwassureyou-'He stopped in confusion, even though therewasnothing to stophim sayingsuchthingsnow:sheknewthathelovedher.

'YouactedasIexpectedyoutoact-veryhonourably,'shesaid.'I'msurethatthisnewinformationaboutmyfamilyhasnotchangedyour

feelingforme.''No, no. My feeling for you won't change unless I feel that you have

changed.''I'llneverchange.I'llalwaysbetruetoyou.''Iknowthatnow,'saidDorothea,puttingoutherhand.Hetookherhand

andraisedittohislipswithasob.Dorotheawalkedover to thewindowand lookedout, 'Seehowdark the

cloudsare,'shesaid.Will laid his hat andgloveson the leather chair and followedher to the

window.Theystoodtogether, lookingoutas thewindmovedthe treesand therainbegan to fall. 'There isnohope forme,' saidWill. 'I shouldn'thavecometoday.Iintendedtogoawayintosilencewithoutawordfromyou.'

'Don't be sorry,' saidDorothea.Her lips trembled, and so did his. Itwas

neverknownwhichlipswerethefirst tomovetowardstheotherlips;buttheykissed,andthentheymovedapart.

Willturnedawayfromherandsaid,inanangryvoice,'Itisimpossible!'Dorothealookedathimsadly.'Itisterribletohaveourliferuinedbycircumstances,'criedWill.'Yourlifeneednotberuined,'saidDorothea.'Yes, itmust!It'scruelofyoutospeakinthatway-asif therewereany

comfort.We'llneverbemarried.''Sometime-wemight,'saidDorothea,inatremblingvoice.'When?' cried Will. 'I'll always be poor. I couldn't offer myself to any

woman,evenifshehadnowealthtorenounce.'There was a silence. Dorothea wanted to say something, but it was too

difficult.Will looked angrily out of the window, then he picked up his hat and

glovesandsaid,'Imustgonow.Goodbye.''Oh, I cannot bear it - my heart will break,' said Dorothea. Her young

passionovercameallthedifficultiesthathadkepthersilent.Tearsfilledhereyesandshesaid,'Idon'tmindaboutpoverty-Ihatemywealth.'

In an instant,Willwas close toherwithhis armsaroundher. 'Wecouldliveonmyownfortune',shesaid.'Itistoomuch-sevenhundredayear-Iwantsolittle-nonewclothes-andIwilllearnwhateverythingcosts.'

***TheLordshadjustthrownouttheReformAct.Thevicar,MrCadwallader,

walkedupanddownthelawnatFreshittHall,readingTheTimes.SirJameswasthere, andCeliawith the baby, andMrsCadwallader andLadyChettam. JustthenMrBrookearrived,lookingsadandperplexed.'IsupposeyouareunhappyabouttheReformAct,'saidMrCadwallader.

'What?Ohyes,theReforms.Thattoo.ButIhavesomesadnewsforyou.''Whatisit?'askedLadyChettam.'Dorotheaisgoingtobemarriedagain,'saidMrBrooke.'NottoyoungLadislaw!'criedMrsCadwallader.

'Yes,'repliedMrBrooke.'Itriedtoconvincehernottodoit,butit'snouseopposingher.Shecanactasshelikes,youknow.'

'Thisisabsolutelyscandalous!'criedSirJames.'IfLadislawhadanysenseof honour, hewould have leftMiddlemarch after Casaubon's death and nevercomeback.I'mshockedatDorothea'sbehaviour.AfterthementionofLadislawin her husband's will, she should never have seen him again. She degradesherselfbymarryinghim:shegoesfromherpropersocialpositionintopoverty.Andwhatkindofmancouldacceptsuchasacrifice?'

'Itoldherallthat,'saidMrBrooke.'Isaid,"Mydear,youdon'tknowwhatit is toliveonsevenhundredayearandhavenocarriage."Butthefact is thatshedislikesCasaubon'sproperty.Shedoesn'twantit.'

'Be just, Chettam,' said Mr Cadwallader. 'Mrs Casaubon may be actingimprudently,butsheisdoingnothingwrong.'

'I disagree with you,' replied Sir James. 'I think Dorothea is doingsomethingwronginmarryingLadislaw.'

'Dodo said shewould nevermarry again,' saidCelia,wishing to supportherhusband.

'Iheardhersaythattoo,'saidLadyChettam.'There isusuallya silentexception in suchcases,' saidMrsCadwallader.

'But why are you all so surprised? You did nothing to prevent it. And MrCasaubonalmostarrangedthismarriagebyhisunpleasantbehaviourinhiswill.'

'I'monLadislaw'sside,'saidthevicar.'WhenImarriedElinor,Ionlyhadathousandpoundsayear.Everybodydisapprovedofme!'

'But youwere aCadwallader,' said hiswifewithdignity. 'It's difficult tosay what Mr Ladislaw is. The son of a Polish piano teacher, was it? Thegrandsonofapawnbroker?'

'Comeon,Elinor,'saidMrCadwallader.'It'stimeforustogo.'

Finale

Everylimitisabeginningaswellasanending.Marriage,whichhasbeentheendofsomanynarratives,isstillagreatbeginning.Itisthebeginningofthehomeepic.Somestartoutwithhopeandenthusiasmbutgetdiscouragedontheway.Allwhoreadaboutyoungpeople's livesare interestedinhowthoselivescontinued.

Lydgate's hair never becamewhite.He diedwhen hewas only fifty.HehadmadealotofmoneyattendingrichpatientsinLondonandontheContinent.Whenhedied,hiswifeandfourdaughterswereleftwithacomfortableincome.Hehadwrittenanarticleongout,andothersregardedhimasasuccessfulman.But he always regarded himself as a failure: he had not done what he onceintended to do. His friends thought he was very fortunate to have such acharmingwife,andRosamondneverdidanythingtochangetheiropinion.Hercharacterneverchanged.Shecontinuedtodoassheliked.Astheyearswenton,heopposedherlessandless.Rosamondthoughtthathehadlearnedthevalueofheropinion.

Dorotheaalwaysfeltthattherewassomethingbettershecouldhavedonewithherlife.Still,sheneverregrettedthatshehadgivenupsocialpositionandfortunetomarryWillLadislaw.Theylovedeachotherverymuch.TheymovedtoLondon,andWillbecameapoliticianwithstrongopinions,workingwell inthose hopeful times of reform. He finally became a Member of Parliament.Dorotheawasgladthatherhusbandwasworkinghardtohelpbringjusticetotheworld.Manywhoknewherthoughtitwasapitythatsucharareandimpressivewomanwasnothingbutawifeandmother.Butnooneknewexactlywhatelseshecouldhavedone.

SirJamesChettamalwaysthoughtthatDorothea'ssecondmarriagewasamistake.AndthepeopleofMiddlemarchcontinuedtotalkabouther.Theysaidthatshewasafinegirlwhohadmarriedascholaroldenoughtobeherfather,and, a year after his death, had given up her fortune tomarry his cousin - ayoungmanwithnomoney.ThosewhohadnevermetDorotheausuallysaidthat,if she had been 'a nicewoman', shewould never havemarried either of thesehusbands.

Certainly her life was not ideal. A new Saint Theresawill not have theopportunitytoreformconvent life.Thoseheroicdaysaregone.Still,Dorothea

did somemodest good in theworld. Thosewho knew her benefited fromhergoodness, aswe all benefit fromgoodpeoplewhose lives arenot recordedorremembered.

-THEEND-Hopeyouhaveenjoyedthereading!

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