Chapter 43

           Thisfigurehathhighprice:’twaswroughtwithloveAgesagoinfinestivory;Noughtmodishinit,pureandnoblelinesOfgenerouswomanhoodthatfitsalltimeThattooiscostlyware;majolicaOfdeftdesign,topleasealordlyeye:Thesmile,yousee,isperfect—wonderfulAsmereFaience!atableornamentTosuittherichestmounting."

           Dorotheaseldomlefthomewithoutherhusband,butshedidoccasionallydriveintoMiddlemarchalone,onlittleerrandsofshoppingorcharitysuchasoccurtoeveryladyofanywealthwhensheliveswithinthreemilesofatown.TwodaysafterthatsceneintheYew-treeWalk,shedeterminedtousesuchanopportunityinorderifpossibletoseeLydgate,andlearnfromhimwhetherherhusbandhadreallyfeltanydepressingchangeofsymptomswhichhewasconcealingfromher,andwhetherhehadinsistedonknowingtheutmostabouthimself.Shefeltalmostguiltyinaskingforknowledgeabouthimfromanother,butthedreadofbeingwithoutit—thedreadofthatignorancewhichwouldmakeherunjustorhard—overcameeveryscruple.Thattherehadbeensomecrisisinherhusband’smindshewascertain:hehadtheverynextdaybegunanewmethodofarranginghisnotes,andhadassociatedherquitenewlyincarryingouthisplan.PoorDorotheaneededtolayupstoresofpatience.

           Itwasaboutfouro’clockwhenshedrovetoLydgate’shouseinLowickGate,wishing,inherimmediatedoubtoffindinghimathome,thatshehadwrittenbeforehand.Andhewasnotathome.