Our Mutual Friend, Book 2: Birds of a Feather, Chapter 4 summary

What happens

1. Georgiana grows close to Mrs Alfred Lammle, while her parents approve the friendship and the Lammles maintain an appearance of wealth.
2. The Lammles overcome Georgiana’s resistance to meeting a suitor by presenting Fledgeby as even more frightened than she is.
3. After Georgiana leaves, Sophronia warns Alfred that his apparent charm over the girl may interfere with his scheme.
4. At dinner, the Lammles invent compliments and shared feelings for their two embarrassed guests, who avoid looking at each other.
5. At the opera, the hosts manufacture a romantic conversation through leading questions and invented reports of their guests’ opinions.
6. At home, Alfred describes Fledgeby’s financial toughness and confirms that Georgiana possesses money independently.

What to notice

Alfred distinguishes Fledgeby’s social awkwardness from his financial ability. The remark exposes the money-centered calculation behind the evening’s apparent romance.

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