Chapter 4 Summary

By now, the operation on Trina's tooth is finished, and she no longer has an obligation to stop by the Parlours. During the last few sittings, however, McTeague and Trina begin to make amends, and eventually find themselves being as congenial with one another as when Trina first came to the Parlours. McTeague begins to realize that Trina is not for him. She deserves someone more refined, someone who will not be so blundering as he is. McTeague's distaste for the "Other Dentist" begins to grow and turn to envy. Trina is much more likely to be attracted to someone such as the other dentist, and for all his shortcomings, McTeague knows he could not compete with such a man.

A few days after Trina's last appointment, Marcus meets with McTeague at the coffee-joint, and the two men embark on a long walk...