Not at all, said Dorothea, with the most open kindness. I like you very much.Will was not quite contented, thinking that he would apparently have been of more importance if he had been disliked. He said nothing, but looked dull, not to say sulky.
In the dialogue from George Eliot's "Middlemarch," Dorothea expresses her genuine affection for Will, stating her fondness for him in a warm and open manner. Her kindness highlights her character's sincerity, as she openly shares her feelings without any reservations.
However, Will struggles with this display of affection. Rather than feeling uplifted by Dorothea's words, he feels a sense of discomfort, believing his significance would have been greater if she had shown him dislike instead. His reaction is one of gloominess, suggesting a complex emotional response to the unreciprocated dynamics of their relationship.