Chapters 72-80

Study Questions

1. What is foremost in Dorothea's mind when he hears of Lydgate's troubles?

2. In sending for Lydgate, what is Dorothea's supposed purpose?

3. Why hasn't Lydgate told Rosamond of his troubles yet?

4. What has happened to Bulstrode?.

5. How is Rosamond made even more distraught?

6. In what manner has it happened that the Lydgates' maid doesn't know Ladislaw is at their home?

7. What does Dorothea bring with her to the Lydgates' home?

8. Why doesn't Dorothea stay to speak with Rosamond as she had promised?

9. When Dorothea arrives at the Farebrothers' what happens?

10. How is it that Rosamond and Lydgate still have not discussed the latest troubles he has, even though Rosamond knows of them through her father?

Answers

1. Dorothea is determined that Lydgate's friends must act to clear his name despite Chettam's insistence that a man must act to clear his own name.

2. Dorothea sends for Lydgate, supposedly to determine strategy for keeping the new hospital separate from the old one.

3. Lydgate is so angry with and feels so distant from his wife that he simply decides to let her hear of his latest troubles. He hopes the news reaches her through someone else. He doesn't want to face her selfishness and coldness while telling her himself.

4. Bulstrode has been ill since the town meeting. His wife suspects it is not physical and keeps looking for answers, finally finding some from her brother.

5. Rosamond has filled her emptiness with romantic fantasies about a relationship with Ladislaw instead of directing her energies toward Lydgate. When Dorothea sees Ladislaw and Rosamond alone and retreats in obvious distress, Ladislaw tells Rosamond the truth.

6. The maid, Martha, did not see Ladislaw arrive and thinks Rosamond is still walking in the garden when Dorothea arrives. She goes to search for Rosamond while Dorothea enters the drawing room to wait. When Martha opens the drawing-room door for Dorothea, Martha neither enters nor looks in the room.

7. Dorothea brings a check for 1,000 pounds to the Lydgates so that they may repay Bulstrode and sever the last remaining connection to him.

8. Dorothea is so distressed at finding Ladislaw alone with Rosamond that she politely flees, rather than staying to speak to her as she had promised Lydgate.

9. The kitten has taken the tortoiseshell lozenge-box Ladislaw gave to Miss Noble. She looks under the chairs for it. Upon hearing it is a gift from Ladislaw, Farebrother joins his aunt in looking until it is found, explaining she is very attached to Ladislaw.

10. Rosamond has still not approached her husband about the latest troubles, thinking he should come to her first. He, in his turn, has not come to tell her because he fears her distance and coldness.