# Our Mutual Friend — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens.

- [Book the First: The Cup and the Lip](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/book-the-first-the-cup-and-the-lip.md): The chapter introduces the aftermath of John Harmon's death and the inheritance passing to the Boffins. Silas Wegg is hired by Mr. Boffin as a reader, and John Rokesmith becomes his secretary. Bella Wilfer meets Rokesmit
- [On the Look Out](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/i-on-the-look-out.md): The novel opens on the Thames at dusk, where Gaffer Hexam and his daughter Lizzie are out in a small boat. Gaffer, a scavenger of the dead, searches the river for bodies and valuables. He retrieves money from a corpse, w
- [The Man from Somewhere](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/ii-the-man-from-somewhere.md): At a dinner party hosted by the Veneerings, Mortimer Lightwood recounts the story of the Harmon family—a wealthy dust contractor who disowned his daughter for marrying against his wishes, and whose son, the 'Man from Som
- [Another Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/iii-another-man.md): The chapter details the inquest into John Harmon's death, the public fascination with the case, and the introduction of Mortimer Lightwood and Eugene Wrayburn as disaffected professionals. Mortimer visits the Hexam home 
- [The R. Wilfer Family](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/iv-the-r-wilfer-family.md): This chapter introduces the Wilfer family, focusing on the patriarch Reginald Wilfer, a poor clerk with a cherubic appearance and a grand name that belies his humble circumstances. His wife is tall and angular, and their

> 66 more chapter companions — [open a free preview](https://www.betterreads.dev/reader?bookId=our_mutual_friend_2108kb&preview=1) to unlock the rest.

- [Boffin's Bower](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/v-boffin-s-bower.md)
- [Cut Adrift](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/vi-cut-adrift.md)
- [Mr. Wegg Looks After Himself](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/vii-mr-wegg-looks-after-himself.md)
- [Mr. Boffin in Consultation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/viii-mr-boffin-in-consultation.md)
- [Mr. and Mrs. Boffin in Consultation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/ix-mr-and-mrs-boffin-in-consultation.md)
- [A Marriage Contract](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/x-a-marriage-contract.md)
- [Podsnappery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/xi-podsnappery.md)
- [The Sweat of an Honest Man's Brow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/xii-the-sweat-of-an-honest-man-s-brow.md)
- [XIII: Tracking the Bird of Prey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/xiii-tracking-the-bird-of-prey.md)
- [The Bird of Prey Brought Down](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/xiv-the-bird-of-prey-brought-down.md)
- [Two New Servants](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/xv-two-new-servants.md)
- [Minders and Reminders](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/xvi-minders-and-reminders.md)
- [A Dismal Swamp](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/xvii-a-dismal-swamp.md)
- [Book the Second: Birds of a Feather](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/book-the-second-birds-of-a-feather.md)
- [I: Of an Educational Character](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/i-of-an-educational-character.md)
- [Still Educational](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/ii-still-educational.md)
- [A Piece of Work](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/iii-a-piece-of-work.md)
- [Cupid Prompted](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/iv-cupid-prompted.md)
- [Mercury Prompting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/v-mercury-prompting.md)
- [A Riddle Without an Answer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/vi-a-riddle-without-an-answer.md)
- [In Which a Friendly Move Is Originated](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/vii-in-which-a-friendly-move-is-originated.md)
- [In Which an Innocent Elopement Occurs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/viii-in-which-an-innocent-elopement-occurs.md)
- [In Which the Orphan Makes His Will](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/ix-in-which-the-orphan-makes-his-will.md)
- [A Successor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/x-a-successor.md)
- [XI: Some Affairs of the Heart](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/xi-some-affairs-of-the-heart.md)
- [More Birds of Prey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/xii-more-birds-of-prey.md)
- [A Solo and a Duet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/xiii-a-solo-and-a-duet.md)
- [Strong of Purpose](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/xiv-strong-of-purpose.md)
- [XV: The Whole Case So Far](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/xv-the-whole-case-so-far.md)
- [An Anniversary Occasion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/xvi-an-anniversary-occasion.md)
- [Book the Third: A Long Lane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/book-the-third-a-long-lane.md)
- [Lodgers in Queer Street](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/i-lodgers-in-queer-street.md)
- [A Respected Friend in a New Aspect](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/ii-a-respected-friend-in-a-new-aspect.md)
- [The Same Respected Friend in More Aspects Than One](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/iii-the-same-respected-friend-in-more-aspects-than-one.md)
- [A Happy Return of the Day](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/iv-a-happy-return-of-the-day.md)
- [The Golden Dustman Falls Into Bad Company](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/v-the-golden-dustman-falls-into-bad-company.md)
- [The Golden Dustman Falls Into Worse Company](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/vi-the-golden-dustman-falls-into-worse-company.md)
- [The Friendly Move Takes Up a Strong Position](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/vii-the-friendly-move-takes-up-a-strong-position.md)
- [The End of a Long Journey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/viii-the-end-of-a-long-journey.md)
- [Somebody Becomes the Subject of a Prediction](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/ix-somebody-becomes-the-subject-of-a-prediction.md)
- [Scouts Out](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/x-scouts-out.md)
- [In the Dark](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/xi-in-the-dark.md)
- [Meaning Mischief](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/xii-meaning-mischief.md)
- [Give a Dog a Bad Name, and Hang Him](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/xiii-give-a-dog-a-bad-name-and-hang-him.md)
- [Mr. Wegg Prepares a Grindstone for Mr. Boffin’s Nose](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/xiv-mr-wegg-prepares-a-grindstone-for-mr-boffin-s-nose.md)
- [The Golden Dustman at His Worst](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/xv-the-golden-dustman-at-his-worst.md)
- [The Feast of the Three Hobgoblins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/xvi-the-feast-of-the-three-hobgoblins.md)
- [A Social Chorus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/xvii-a-social-chorus.md)
- [Book the Fourth: A Turning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/book-the-fourth-a-turning.md)
- [I: Setting Traps](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/i-setting-traps.md)
- [The Golden Dustman Rises a Little](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/ii-the-golden-dustman-rises-a-little.md)
- [The Golden Dustman Sinks Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/iii-the-golden-dustman-sinks-again.md)
- [A Runaway Match](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/iv-a-runaway-match.md)
- [Concerning the Mendicant's Bride](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/v-concerning-the-mendicant-s-bride.md)
- [A Cry for Help](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/vi-a-cry-for-help.md)
- [Better to Be Abel Than Cain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/vii-better-to-be-abel-than-cain.md)
- [A Few Grains of Pepper](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/viii-a-few-grains-of-pepper.md)
- [Two Places Vacated](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/ix-two-places-vacated.md)
- [X: The Dolls’ Dressmaker Discovers a Word](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/x-the-dolls-dressmaker-discovers-a-word.md)
- [Effect Is Given to the Dolls’ Dressmaker’s Discovery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/xi-effect-is-given-to-the-dolls-dressmaker-s-discovery.md)
- [XII: The Passing Shadow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/xii-the-passing-shadow.md)
- [Showing How the Golden Dustman Helped to Scatter Dust](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/xiii-showing-how-the-golden-dustman-helped-to-scatter-dust.md)
- [Checkmate to the Friendly Move](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/xiv-checkmate-to-the-friendly-move.md)
- [XV: What Was Caught in the Traps That Were Set](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/xv-what-was-caught-in-the-traps-that-were-set.md)
- [The Voice of Society](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/xvii-the-voice-of-society.md)
- [Postscript](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/postscript.md)

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters