Welcome back, Middlemarchers! I'm back again this week after I mistakenly captured my dates incorrectly in the planner for me to post. I'll make sure to double-check things in the future! You'll hear from other folks in the team in the coming weeks 😓

This week we kick off Book 3: 'Wating for Death.' Sounds a bit ominous. Let's get into it. In Chapters 23 and 24 of Middlemarch, we encounter Fred Vincy. Fred finds himself in debt after indulging in billiards and horse-trading, owing a considerable £160. Despite receiving a gift from Mr. Featherstone, he still can't cover the debt. Enter Caleb Garth, Mary's father, who generously takes on Fred's debt, setting the stage for an intriguing turn of events.

As Fred tries to repay Caleb by making a profit at a horse fair, we're introduced to the Garth family and their unique dynamic. Unlike the Vincys, Caleb is a hardworking, respected man known for his integrity. Mrs. Garth balances motherhood, housekeeping, and teaching. Fred's debt jeopardizes her dreams of securing an apprenticeship for her son, leaving the family to reassess their plans.

Chapter 23:

• Lindley Murray and Magnall's 'Questions': School books of the era. This sentence hints at Mrs. Vincy's disapproval of working woman/schoolteacher Mrs. Garth.
• 'Cute jockies': Slang for horse-dealers.
• 'Blacklegs': Slang for turf swindlers, possibly referring to horses with deceptive appearances.
• 'Roarer': Slang for a horse with loud breathing; observed in the horse Fred brings to the horse fair.

Chapter 24:

• Opening quote from Shakespeare's Sonnets.
• Cincinnatus: Roman Republic statesman and general, recalled from disgrace to lead against the Aequians in 456 BCE (Cincinnatus - World History Encyclopedia).