Chapter 2 Summary

Marcus brings Trina, his cousin, around to the dentist's office so that McTeague may have a look at her damaged tooth. While Marcus and his cousin wait for the dentist to finish with another patient, Marcus teases Maria, the maid who tidies the units in the flat. He asks her name, and she gives the same curious response as she always does, which delights Marcus immensely, despite his having heard it innumerable times before.

Finally, McTeague is ready for Trina, and Marcus takes his leave. McTeague is awkward around her, having never quite been comfortable around women, least of all young, delicate, attractive ladies such as Trina. She, on the other hand, is quite content to be with him. She is, according to McTeague "without sex." In other words, she has yet to "discover" the male of the species and has therefore not...