'I have brought a little petitioner.'

Grayscale illustration of a man showing a small Maltese puppy to an impassive young woman. In the background, a groom waits with two horses.

This illustration depicts Sir James Chettam trying to court Dorothea. He presents her a small Maltese puppy, his “petitioner." Unfortunately for Chettam, Dorothea is not won over as other young women might be; notably, Dorothea has no interest in lapdogs and is oblivious to Chettam's romantic gestures. "Sir James interpreted the heightened colour in the way most gratifying to himself, and thought he never saw Miss Brooke looking so handsome. 'I have brought a little petitioner,' he said, 'or rather, I have brought him to see if he will be approved before his petition is offered'" (Book 1, Chapter 3).

Brock, Charles E. (1870-1938)

George Eliot Archive, edited by Beverley Park Rilett. https://GeorgeEliotArchive.org

1908

CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Brock, Charles E. (1870-1938), 'I have brought a little petitioner.', George Eliot Illustrations Gallery, George Eliot Archive, edited by Beverley Park Rilett. https://GeorgeEliotArchive.org, Accessed September 7, 2026. https://www.georgeeliotarchive.org/items/show/83532