Middlemarch

Three months have passed since the death of Casaubon. Though she has been warned by her family, Dorothea returns to her "quite melancholy" (763) house. People are worried that the loneliness will drive her "mad" (764). They hope she will "marry again" (765) and they worry that her marriage to Will is something of an inevitability if she returns to her house. Dorothea has claimed that she only wishes to acquaint herself with her deceased husband's replacement at the church, Farebrother, but she secretly harbors a "longing" (767) to see Will. However, Will passes by the house only to announce that he plans "to leave" (771) Middlemarch to study law. He does not plan on returning until he has graduated. At this time, he does not know that Casaubon's will forbids Dorothea from marrying him. However, he is "almost angry" (774) that her family seems to have turned against him. Dorothea wishes him luck. Both she and Will, however, feel sad at his departure. Despite their shared sadness, neither says anything to the other. They hide their true feelings. Chettam interrupts their conversation. His brusque tone insults Will.