Middlemarch: Book 3, Chapter 25 Summary & Analysis

Fred goes to Mr. Featherstone’s house, Stone Court, and dramatically announces to Mary that from now on she will only have the worst opinion of him. He explains the whole story, and Mary immediately cries out in sympathy for her father. Fred begs for Mary’s forgiveness, but she says that’s not the point. Her forgiveness will not fix the fact that Mrs. Garth has lost her savings and Alfred will no longer be able to do his apprenticeship. Fred asks if Featherstone might advance Mary her salary, to which she replies: “my family is not fond of begging, Fred. We would rather work for our money.” 

Mary observes that selfish people always prioritize their own feelings over the harm they’ve caused others, just as Fred is doing now. Fred attempts to defend himself, but Mary will not hear it. Fred begs her to tell him she loves him, and Mary teases him in return, dreaming up a horrible future for him. However, this makes her smile, and soon after, she runs to tell Featherstone Fred is there. Fred harbors no fears about his future due to the inheritance he presumes he will receive from his uncle. He speaks with Featherstone only briefly before returning home.

Later Mr. Garth comes to Stone Court. Alone with Mary, Mr. Garth says he has bad news, but Mary replies that she already knows it. She has already set aside the £24 she has saved, explaining that Fred came to see her that morning. Mr. Garth is overwhelmed with emotion and assures her they only need £18. He then tells Mary to beware of Fred, who has proven to be untrustworthy. He explains that he knows Mary is reasonable, but he still worries as her father. Mary assures him that she will never accept a man who is not financially independent, and father and daughter share a tender moment.