Fred is turning out to be quite manipulative. He manages to lose thirty pounds almost immediately after it is given to him, and then he has the gall to ask Mary Garth to beg Mr. Featherstone for some cash.

 1.      What is going on with Fred? Does the fact that he went to Mr. Garth right away to tell him he lost money that was loaned to him make him a more reasonable character or does he lose all credibility when he goes to Mary Garth?

2.      What does Mary Garth’s reaction tell you about the different classes in this Middlemarch society?