While nominally about the reverend Mr. Gilfil's youthful love, this story actually centers around Caterina Sarti, a young Italian adoptee of a wealthy family who has always been raised comfortably but explicitly of a lower class than her family members. Caterina falls for Anthony, her adopted father's choice of heir, and must suffer with his unattainability even as Maynard Gilfil pines for her.

The story is a bit slow to pick up, but once I hit the halfway point I was very engaged. I like Eliot's writing style, and though the characters frustrated me, they were well-drawn. Not my favorite but worth the read.