Chapter 16

           "AllthatinwomanisadoredInthyfairselfIfind—ForthewholesexcanbutaffordThehandsomeandthekind."—SIRCHARLESSEDLEY.

           ThequestionwhetherMr.TykeshouldbeappointedassalariedchaplaintothehospitalwasanexcitingtopictotheMiddlemarchers;andLydgatehearditdiscussedinawaythatthrewmuchlightonthepowerexercisedinthetownbyMr.Bulstrode.Thebankerwasevidentlyaruler,buttherewasanoppositionparty,andevenamonghissupportersthereweresomewhoallowedittobeseenthattheirsupportwasacompromise,andwhofranklystatedtheirimpressionthatthegeneralschemeofthings,andespeciallythecasualtiesoftrade,requiredyoutoholdacandletothedevil.

           Mr.Bulstrode’spowerwasnotduesimplytohisbeingacountrybanker,whoknewthefinancialsecretsofmosttradersinthetownandcouldtouchthespringsoftheircredit;itwasfortifiedbyabeneficencethatwasatoncereadyandsevere—readytoconferobligations,andsevereinwatchingtheresult.Hehadgathered,asanindustriousmanalwaysathispost,achiefshareinadministeringthetowncharities,andhisprivatecharitieswerebothminuteandabundant.HewouldtakeagreatdealofpainsaboutapprenticingTeggtheshoemaker’sson,andhewouldwatchoverTegg’schurch-going;hewoulddefendMrs.StrypethewasherwomanagainstStubbs’sunjustexactiononthescoreofherdrying-ground,andhewouldhimself-scrutinizeacalumnyagainstMrs.Strype.