Chapter Detailed Summary and Commentary of Middlemarch - Study Guide by George Eliot

Bulstrode has bought Stone Court and Raffles, having read the piece of paper with his name on it, has come back to blackmail him (chapter 53). Bulstrode has a guilty secret and Raffles reveals it involves Ladislaw.

Book VI: The Widow and the Wife. Chapters 54-62

Having lost his job, Will resolves to leave Middlemarch and visits Lowick to say goodbye to Dorothea, an awkward meeting marred by the fact that Will does not know about the clause in Casaubon's will (chapter 54). At Celia and Sir James' house, Dorothea declares her intention to never marry again (chapter 55). She has asked Caleb to carry out some improvements on her land and near to where he is working, progress has touched on Middlemarch again: railway agents are surveying the land in preparation for a new line (chapter 56).

The railway has been regarded with suspicion and alarm in Middlemarch and some local labourers attack the agents, who are saved by Fred Garth who is riding nearby. Caleb runs across to help and Fred ends up spending the rest of the day assisting Caleb and talking of his feeling for Mary. Much to Mr and Mrs Vincy's disappointment, Fred agrees to become Caleb's apprentice. Mrs Garth is also less than overjoyed at this news and rather spitefully tells Fred about Mr Farebrother's affection for Mary (chapter 57). Fred is so alarmed that he goes to confront Mary who refuses to commit herself to him but is reassuring.

And Rosamund has a miscarriage after going riding with the baronet's son against Lydgate's express injunction (chapter 58). Lydgate finds they are further in debt and breaks the news to Rosamund, who becomes increasingly cold and distant. It is Rosamund who tactlessly breaks the humiliating news about Casaubon's will to Will and she starts to actively work against Lydgate, writing to his uncle to beg for money when he has told her not to (chapter 59). Will does not quite get around to leaving Middlemarch and does some work for Mr Bulstrode (chapter 60). He meets Raffles who recognises him and Will at last finds out why his mother ran away from her family. They sold stolen goods in a pawn house.

Raffles continues to harass Mr Bulstrode (chapter 61). As a young man, Bulstrode was a prominent member of a dissenting church. He worked in a wealthy pawn house - which he justified to himself by saying it must be the will of God - and when the owner dies he marries the widow, who inherits the business. Yet the widow has a daughter who ran away and whom she wishes to find to give her the inheritance. Bulstrode pays a man to keep her whereabouts a secret. The man is Raffles and the daughter was Will's mother. In an attempt to bury his past, Bulstrode offers Will money that Will indignantly refuses. At this point Will finally decides to leave Middlemarch. There are growing rumours of an affair between him and Rosamund in the town, which Dorothea hears and refuses to believe (chapter 62). Will comes to say goodbye to Dorothea and for the first time she realises he loves her.

Book VII: Two Temptations. Chapters 63-71.

It is New Year at the Vincys and Mr Farebrother notices that Rosamund treats Lydgate with indifference - and that Lydgate is extremely tense (chapter 63). His proffered help is rejected, however. Lydgate has run seriously into debt and needs £1000 to clear him (chapter 64). The distance between him and Rosamund has increased. One of the only options is to sell the house but Rosamund goes to the estate agent behind Lydgate's back and tells him they have changed their mind. She begins to coldly thwart him at every turn, wishing to leave Middlemarch altogether. Lydgate's uncle the baronet writes a cutting refusal to Rosamund's request for money (chapter 65).

Lydgate succumbs to temptation at the pub The Green Dragon and starts betting on billiards (chapter 66). Fred is there, taking a night off from being good with the Garths. He prevents Lydgate from losing any more money by telling him Mr Farebrother is there. But it is to Fred that Farebrother really wishes to speak, warning Fred not to "wear out Garth's patience" (chap. 66) slip and lose Mary.