Summary

Chapter 1

Dorothea Brooke and her sister Celia are introduced and described. Dorothea is beautiful and deeply religious, while Celia has more common sense. They are well educated. Since the sisters’ parents are dead, they live with their uncle who will not hire them a chaperone. Instead, he allows Dorothea to be in charge of the house. Dorothea thinks often that her sister should marry Sir James Chettam, but she has more immature ideas about marriage for herself. They are preparing to host Chettam and the Reverend Edward Casaubon for dinner.

Chapter 2

During dinner Chettam seems to be trying to impress Dorothea, but Dorothea is taken by Casaubon.

Chapter 3

Casaubon has already begun to think that Dorothea might make an acceptable wife for him. Dorothea feels that Casaubon understands her as no one else ever has. He makes a point to tell...