# Mrs. Boffin — Our Mutual Friend character guide > Mrs. Boffin in Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** the cheerful Mrs. Boffin, the openhearted Mrs. Boffin **First appearance:** 0005-v-boffin-s-bower ## Snapshot The openhearted wife of the Golden Dustman, whose wholesome cordiality draws the poor and the proud alike to her, and who loves Bella Wilfer like a daughter. ## Who they are Raised from nothing to sudden wealth, Mrs. Boffin keeps her warm, unpretending kindness intact, weeping over little Johnny Higden and pressing to know how she can help. She takes Bella under her wing and treats Sloppy with a courtesy that costs her nothing and means everything to him. Her generous, unguarded heart becomes the moral counterweight to the novel's calculations of money and marriage. ## Relationships ### [Bella Wilfer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/characters/bella_wilfer) _family_ Mrs. Boffin becomes a loving maternal figure to Bella, showering her with affection and guiding her moral growth. ### [Fledgeby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/characters/fledgeby) _professional_ Fledgeby, a moneylender, interacts with Mrs. Boffin as a creditor and social climber, but she sees through his deceitful nature. ### [Twemlow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/characters/twemlow) _social_ Mrs. Boffin and Twemlow are kind-hearted society acquaintances who share a gentle, mutual respect and a disdain for snobbery. ### [Mr. Boffin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/characters/mr_boffin) _family_ Mr. and Mrs. Boffin are a devoted, loving married couple who share a deep partnership and mutual kindness. ### [Fledgeby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/characters/fledgeby) _professional_ Fledgeby, a moneylender, interacts with Mrs. Boffin as a creditor and social climber, but she sees through his deceitful nature. ### [Bella Wilfer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/characters/bella_wilfer) _family_ Mrs. Boffin becomes a loving maternal figure to Bella, showering her with affection and guiding her moral growth. ### [Mr. Boffin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/characters/mr_boffin) _family_ Mr. and Mrs. Boffin are a devoted, loving married couple who share a deep partnership and mutual kindness. ### [Fledgeby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/characters/fledgeby) _professional_ Fledgeby, a moneylender, interacts with Mrs. Boffin as a creditor and social climber, but she sees through his deceitful nature. ### [Twemlow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/characters/twemlow) _social_ Mrs. Boffin and Twemlow are kind-hearted society acquaintances who share a gentle, mutual respect and a disdain for snobbery. ### [Bella Wilfer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/characters/bella_wilfer) _family_ Mrs. Boffin becomes a loving maternal figure to Bella, showering her with affection and guiding her moral growth. ### [Mr. Boffin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/characters/mr_boffin) _family_ Mr. and Mrs. Boffin are a devoted, loving married couple who share a deep partnership and mutual kindness. ### [Twemlow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/characters/twemlow) _social_ Mrs. Boffin and Twemlow are kind-hearted society acquaintances who share a gentle, mutual respect and a disdain for snobbery. ## In the story ### [Boffin's Bower](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/v-boffin-s-bower) Mr. Boffin's affectionate wife; she maintains her own style in the home and participates in the welcome for Wegg. ### [Mr. and Mrs. Boffin in Consultation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/ix-mr-and-mrs-boffin-in-consultation) Eager to embrace fashionable society and proposes adopting an orphan to give the name of John Harmon. She visits the Milveys to seek help in finding a suitable child. ### [Two New Servants](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/xv-two-new-servants) Observes Mr. Boffin's difficulties; approves of John Rokesmith; recites poetry given by Silas Wegg. ### [Minders and Reminders](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/xvi-minders-and-reminders) Sends word to Bella and visits Betty Higden to see the orphan, showing her kind and practical nature. ### [A Dismal Swamp](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/xvii-a-dismal-swamp) She takes Bella Wilfer to the milliner and dressmaker, helping her get beautifully dressed. ### [In Which an Innocent Elopement Occurs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/viii-in-which-an-innocent-elopement-occurs) Mrs. Boffin enjoys her new life and insists Bella use the chariot for her visit home, showing her generous and cheerful nature. ### [A Successor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/x-a-successor) Leads the discussion about not reviving the Harmon name and decides to adopt Sloppy instead. ### [A Solo and a Duet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/xiii-a-solo-and-a-duet) Mentioned alongside Mr. Boffin as a faithful friend and part of Harmon's motivation to remain dead. ### [Strong of Purpose](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/xiv-strong-of-purpose) Reluctantly agrees to let Betty Higden travel and work independently, persuaded by Rokesmith. ### [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) Anxiously reflects Mr. Boffin's changes; remains kind and proud of Bella, not jealous of Mrs. Lammle's attention. ### [The Golden Dustman at His Worst](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/xv-the-golden-dustman-at-his-worst) Anxious and distressed, she is forbidden to explain Boffin's behavior to Bella but watches her with concern. ### [The Golden Dustman Rises a Little](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/ii-the-golden-dustman-rises-a-little) Present at the breakfast, shy and silent, but shares her husband's understanding of the Lammles' true motives. ### [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) The cheerful narrator of the revelation, recounting how she recognized John Harmon and helped orchestrate the test. ### [Postscript](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/postscript) Mentioned as being in the railway accident with Mr. Boffin, both unharmed. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/characters/mrs_boffin - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/characters