Our Mutual Friend

Mortimer takes Jenny to the inn; Riah is left in charge of Jenny’s shop. In a moment of lucidity, Eugene asks that Headstone not be prosecuted for the attack. He fears that this will only hurt Lizzie’s reputation. Jenny understands that Eugene wants to marry Lizzie even though he is dying.

Mortimer leaves to fetch Bella, who is shocked that her husband will not accompany them to the wedding. In fact, John refuses even to meet Mortimer face-to-face. The Milveys and Bella go to the train station. They notice Headstone nearby and engage him in conversation. Having heard them mention Lizzie’s name, Headstone asks for any updates. Reverend Milvey, unaware of the recent events, proudly declares that he is going to marry Lizzie and Eugene. The information has a devastating effect on Headstone, but the others resume their journey. After Eugene and Lizzie marry, his health seems to improve.

Months pass, in which Bella has a baby girl. During this time, however, she notices that her husband is increasingly distressed. While out shopping, John and Bella happen to meet Mortimer. The lawyer realizes that the man now known as John Rokesmith once introduced himself as Julius Handford. John confesses to his lie, and Mortimer begins to wonder whether he may have some association with the Harmon murder. John invites Mortimer to discuss the matter at his house the next day. Before John can explain anything to Bella, the police inspector arrives and accuses him of involvement in the Harmon case. Bella is confused but agrees to go with her husband to the police station, where two sailors confirm her husband’s identity. The following day, John comes to Bella. He tells her that he has a new job and that they will need to move to a new house. Bella, confused, accompanies her husband as he takes her to the Boffins’ mansion.

The Boffins welcome John and Bella, revealing their big secret: John Rokesmith is actually John Harmon. Since they watched young John grow up, they were able to recognize him around the time he proposed to Bella. He spoke to the Boffins, sharing his fear that Bella would never love him. They hatched an elaborate plan to mistreat John and thus cure Bella of her greed. She chose John of her free will, not because of a large inheritance, and she showed her willingness to live a modest life with him. Now that she has proved that she is a good person, they can begin a new life together.

Meanwhile, Silas has been watching the clearing of the dust heaps. John and Bella move into the mansion on the day when the final heap is cleared, with Silas expecting the removal of the dust to reveal the treasure he has sought. Silas meets Venus, who shares recent good news: He is planning to marry Pleasant Riderhood. Silas arranges to go with Venus to Boffin to finalize their blackmail. Boffin arrives at their meeting with John at his side. John is rude to Silas, who quickly realizes that everyone—including Venus—has turned against him. When Silas threatens to show the will to the world, John produces a third will that was hidden inside the bottle that Boffin took from the dust heap. This will leaves everything to Boffin and disinherits John. Boffin knew about and hid this will because he feared that it would raise unfounded questions about what John had done to “deserve” being disinherited. Venus betrayed Silas’s plan to Boffin, who recovered the third will once he knew that John was still alive. Now, Boffin plans to give the fortune to John, forsaking his own right to the money. Silas has nothing. Sloppy throws him out onto the street and into a “scavenger’s cart.”

Headstone panics. He worries that he will be caught and is horrified that his attack on Eugene has only succeeded in bringing Eugene and Lizzie together. Riderhood appears one day at the school where Headstone works. He insists that Headstone pay him a visit, hinting at a vague threat. When Headstone visits Riderhood a few days later, Riderhood accuses Headstone of trying to frame him for the attempted murder of Eugene. Riderhood has the bundle of clothes that Headstone threw into the river. He demands payment in exchange for not revealing Headstone’s crimes to the authorities. When Headstone claims that he has no money, Riderhood refuses to let him leave until he gets his reward. Riderhood follows Headstone closely until Headstone turns and attacks Riderhood. Headstone pulls them into the river, and they both drown.

John and Bella have a happy marriage. They are generous with their money, especially toward anyone who was affected by John’s lies. Jenny and Sloppy become friends, and Eugene makes a slow recovery.

At a dinner party at the Veneering house, Mortimer listens to a conversation about Eugene’s marriage. Though many of the guests look down on him for marrying below his social status, Twemlow stands up for Eugene and Lizzie. He praises them for marrying for love rather than social standing. Mortimer walks home with Twemlow and “shakes hands with him cordially” (820).