our mutual friend

[abd almalek]

this is the first tearm 2nd prep novel(() Main Plot of the Novel

Old John Harmon, a rich man who has made his fortune by collecting dust, dies. According to his will, his fortune goes to his only son John Harmon if he gets married to a young woman he has never seen, Miss Bella Wilfer. The will is in the charge of the lawyer, Mortimer Lightwood, who has no other work.
John Harmon, who has been away for fourteen years, is on a ship sailing up the River Thames, back home to claim his fortune. However, he doubts if this money may make him happy. John tells his story to George Radfoot, a sailor on the ship. The two young men plan that John should disguise and hide for some time until he finds out about Bella's personality. When he has decided about Bella Wilfer, he can go to Mr. Lightwood, his father's lawyer, and reveal his true identity.
Before the son can claim his fortune, a body is found in the Thames by Jesse Hexam, a waterman who makes his living by finding corpses and robbing them. The body is identified from papers in the pockets as that of the heir, John Harmon. A stranger is present at the identification of the body and gives his name as Julius Handford and then disappears. Julius Handford and John Harmon are in fact the same person.
According to the dust collector's will, the whole property then goes to Mr. and Mrs. Boffin, the former good servants of the rich man. Mr. and Mrs. Boffin wish to enjoy the fortune for themselves and to share it with others. They take the disappointed bride of the drowned heir, Miss Wilfer, into their house, and treat her as their child. They also promise a large reward to the person that can find the murderer of John Harmon. They accept John Rokesmith to serve as secretary. John Rokesmith (John Harmon in disguise) uses this position to watch everything about his fortune and about Miss Wilfer.
Rouge Riderhood feels bitter when Hexam refuses to take him as business partner on the river any more. Desiring the large reward offered in relation to the murder, Rogue Riderhood accuses Hexam of murdering John Harmon. Hexam is avoided by his fellows on the river. Hexam's young son, Charley Hexam, leaves his father's house in order to improve and train to be a schoolmaster. Lizzie stays with her father, to whom she is devoted. Before Rouge Riderhood can take the reward for his false accusation against Hexam, Hexam is found drowned.
Lizzie Hexam becomes the assistant of a doll's dressmaker. But she has caught the attention of Eugene Wrayburn, Mortimer Lightwood's friend. Wrayburn falls in love with her. However, he has a rival in Bradley Headstone, the schoolmaster of Charley Hexam, who is planning to marry her. Lizzie Hexam escapes and finds work up the river outside London.








Answer the following question.
1. Why was John Harmon going to be rich?
- John Harmon was going to be rich because he inherited all his father's money.

2. Old John Harmon had made a very strange will. Why was it very strange?
- John Harmon inherited all his father's money but if he agreed to marry a girl called Bella Wilfer.

3. Together, the two young men had made a plane
a) Who were the two young men?
- The two young men were John Harmon and George Radfoot.

b) What was the plan they had made?
- George Radfoot was going to help John Harmon disguise himself. Then Harmon would hide for a time and find out what kind of girl Bella Wilfer was.


1. Who spoke to Hexam from another boat on the river? Was this man a friend of Hexam?
- Rouge Riderhood spoke from another boat on the river. No, he was unfriendly he had unpleasant, twisted smile.

2. As the boat moved silently over the water, the thing at the end of the rope always followed. What was the thing at the end of the rope?
- The thing that followed at the end of the rope was the body of a drowned man.



1. How had old Harmon made his money?
- Old Harmon made his money by the dust.

2. Why had young John Harmon left England?
- John Harmon left England and has been abroad for fourteen years. Because the two quarrelled long ago.

3. Young John Harmon inherited his father's money on one condition. What was that condition?
- John Harmon must marry a certain girl who is now eighteen and very beautiful. The old man saw this girl once when she was only four.

4. Where did Charley Hexam take Mortimer Lightwood and his friend, Eugene Wrayburn?
- Charley Hexam took the two young men to his father's house

5. How did Hexam make his living?
- By taking drowned bodies from the river.

6. "It's a terrible sight,' said the young man.
a) What was the terrible sight?
- The body of the drowned man.

b) What did the young man say his name was?
- Mr. Julius Handford.

7. " I have the river. It brings nothing but unhappiness." Who said these?
- Lizzie said these words to her brother Charley.

8. Why did Lizzie send Charley away?
- To go to a better school that he would never be able to rise in the world while he lived with his father.



1. Why was Bella Wilfer sad and angry?
- Because she lost a husband and money after Mr. Harmon's death.

2. But Bella would not have laughed if she had known one thing. What was the one thing?
- That Mr. Julius Handford and Mr. John Rokesmith were surely the same man.

3. Why did Mr Boffin offer a reward to the man who found John Harmon's murderer? How much was the reward?
- Because he and his wife had gained by his death when they inherited the
money. They offered a reward of ten thousand pounds.

4. Mr. Rokesmith wanted a job.
a) Who did he want to work for?
- He wanted to work to Mr. Boffin.

b) Who had suggested it?
- Mrs. Boffin.
5. "Well, that's a good idea,' said Mr Boffin.
a) What was the good idea?
- The idea was to ask Bella to live with them.

b) Who had suggested it?
- Mrs. Boffin.

6. Why did Mr Boffin call Mr Rosmith "Our Mutual friend"?
- Because he rented a room in Mr. Wilfer's house, and he would be Mr. Boffin's secretary.

7. Why did people call Mr Boffin, 'The Golden Dustman'?
- Because he was a good and a kind man.



1. What did Riderhood want to talk to Mr Lightwood about?
- He wanted to tell him that John Harmon was murdered by Jesse Hexam.

2. Who did Riderhood say had murdered John Harmon?
- Jesse Hexam.

3. 'You have no proof,'Lightwood told Riderhood. But what did Riderhood say was his proof?
- His proof was that Hexam told him that he had murdered John Harmon.

4. Eugene Wrayburn looked through the window of Hexam's house. Who did he see inside?
- He saw Lizzie sitting alone, crying and waiting for her father.

5. 'Look, it's him. He's cheated me!' How had Riderhood been cheated?
- When he found Jesse Hexam dead body at the end of the rope.



1. The new secretary worked well; but there was one thing he would not do. What was that one thing?
- Mr. Rokesmith always refused to visit Mr. Boffin's lawyer, Mr. Lightwood. The secretary wrote letters to Mr. Lightwood, but he would never see him.

2. 'So rude, so careless, but so very beautiful,' he said to himself.
a) Who said these words?
- Mr. Rokesmith said these words to himself.

b) Who was he thinking of?
- He was thinking of Bella Wilfer.

3. What happened to Bella Wilfer after she went to live with the Boffins?
- After Bella Wilfer went to live with the Boffins she wore the finest, most fashionable clothes, and she grew more beautiful every day. She became a little more proud, a little more spoilt. She certainly became a very interested in money and in all pretty things she could buy with it.



1. Bradley Headstone seemed to be a calm man. Was this really true?
- He seemed calm, but deep feelings burned inside him.

2. What was Miss Jenny Wren's work?
- Miss Jenny Wren's worked as Doll's Dressmaker.

3. Charley Hexam said to his sister: 'I'm ashamed that Mr. Headstone saw you there.' Why was ashamed?
- Charley Hexam trying to improve himself, because he wants to do well in life.

4. Who did Charley Hexam and Bradley Headstone see walking past them?
- Charley Hexam and Bradley Headstone see Mr. Eugene Wrayburn coming toward them walking slowly and smoking a cigar.

5. What did Jenny Wren think of Lizzie's brother and of Bradley Headstone?
- Jenny Wren doesn’t like Lizzie's brother, and she doesn’t like the schoolmaster either.

6. What was Eugene Wrayburn offering Lizzie and Jenny? Did Lizzie accept?
- Mr. Eugene offering Lizzie that he found a kind woman to give Lizzie and Jenny lesson the money is nothing. Yes, Lizzie accepted his offering.


1. Why had Charley Hexam and Bradley Headstone come to see Eugene Wrayburn?
- To ask him stop meeting and helping Lizzie.

2. "I think you have an interest in her too".
a) Who says these words?
- Eugene Wrayburn.

b) Who is he speaking to?
- To Mr. Bradley Headstone.

C) Who is "her'?
- Lizzie Hexam.

3. Mortimer Lightwood asked: 'Then what is going to happen? What are you doing? What Eugene Wrayburn's answer to these questions?
- He said I wish I knew the answers to your questions. But I don’t. there isn’t one clear thought in my head.



1. Why did society accept the Boffins?
- Because they were rich.

2. Bella felt unhappy and ashamed. What had Rokesmith said to make her feel like this?
- He said that he was ready to take massage from her to her father as he lived in her father's house her old home to tell them her next visit as she hadn’t visit her family for long time.

3. Mr. Boffin had given Bella a banknote for fifty pounds. What did Bella do with this money?
- She bought new suit, new hat and boots of the very best leather to her father and gave him the rest of the money.

4. 'Put love and happiness first,' Mr. Wilfer advised Bella. What was Bella's reply?
- She told him that she hate being poor money must come first.

5. Mrs. Boffin asked Rokesmith: 'Are you sure that you have never been made unhappy by love?'
a) What did Rokesmith reply to this question?
- He gave no answer to this question.

b) Why was Bella disappointed?
- Because she wanted to hear his answer about the question as she thought about him a great deal.



1. Bradley Headstone's whole life had been changed. What had caused this change?
- Because he had fallen in love with Lizzie. He tried to hide his feelings but he couldn’t.

2. How had Bradley Headstone hoped to help Lizzie?
- He hoped to be her teacher and help her educate.

3. 'My poor Lizzie's,' Jenny said quietly. What had Jenny understood about Lizzie's feelings for Eugene Wrayburn?
- She understood that Lizzie had fallen in love with Wrayburn.

4. Why did Charley plan to meet Lizzie before she reached home? Who came with him?
- Because he didn’t want to speak with her in front of Jenny. Mr. Headstone went with him.

5. 'Is it yes or no?' said Bradley Headstone.
a) Who was he speaking to?
- Lizzie Hexam.

b) What does the question mean?
- He wanted to know if she had accepted his offer to be his wife.

6. 'Then I hope that I never kill him,' said Bradley Headstone.
Who does Bradley Headstone hope he will never kill?
- Mr. Eugene Wrayburn.

7. Why was Charley Hexam angry with his sister?
- Because she refused to marry Mr. Bradley Headstone who was supposed to be Charley's brother – in – law.

8. Lizzie warned Eugene to take care. What did she mean?
- She meant Mr. Bradley Headstone, and her brother Charley.

9. Eugene Wrayburn searched for Lizzie Hexam all over London. Why?
- Because she had left Jenny's house after she said that Lizzie was no longer there.




[A] Summary
 Riderhood's Visitor
• People kept away from Riderhood after Hexam's death. But one evening, he had a visitor in his dark, dirty house that looked like an animal's hole.
• The visitor was dressed like a sailor. He looked rough. He had long hair and a thick beard. His skin was brown.
• Riderhood noticed that the visitor's knife and coat belonged to a sailor called George Radfoot.
• Riderhood asked the visitor how George Radfoot had died and how he had had his coat and knife.
• The visitor told Riderhood that he was the only one who knew the truth of the dark night of the Harmon Murder and that he would claim the reward and share it with Riderhood if he swore that Hexam wasn’t the murderer.
 The night of the Harmon Murder
• When the visitor left Riderhood's house he took off his beard and long hair.
• The visitor (disguised as a sailor), Mr. Julius Handford (who appeared in the police station), Mr. John Rokesmith (Mr. Boffin's secretary) were all the same man – John Harmon!
• John Harmon tried to remember what had happened during the dark night the ship arrived in London.
• He had a plan with George Radfoot that he should disguise; so they went to Riderhood who sold sailors' clothes.
• He remembered that he was given some drugged coffee then there was some fighting and that he was knocked down and thrown into the river.
• By the help of God he could get out of the water nearly dead. He was wearing Radfoot's clothes.
• He stayed in a hotel for twelve days using the name of Handford.
• When he saw a notice saying that John Harmon had been drowned he went to the police station and saw the body of George Radfoot dressed in his clothes. And that's why everybody thought that John Harmon was dead.
 Let things stay as they are
• John Harmon decided to stay disguised as John Rokesmith because if he uncovered his real character, he would inherit his father's money and the girl he loved – Bella Wilfer – would love him for the sake of his money, not for his own personality.
• The good and faithful Boffins would keep his father's money and they might help Bella grow better and less interested in money.
 Bella rejects Mr. Rokesmith's proposal
• When John Rokesmith reached the Boffins' house, Bella was there alone.
• Mr. Rokesmith confessed his love to Bella and offered her to marry him but she rejected his proposal asking him not to waste his life for useless love.
• When Mr. Rokesmith left the house, Bella laughed and looked at her pretty face in the mirror then she threw herself in a chair crying!
• Mr. Rokesmith was broken and thought that his life was of no use to him.
 Riderhood again
• The next day, John Rokesmith decided to prove that Jesse Hexam was innocent for the sake of his children. He went to Riderhood and made him sign a paper to say that Jesse Hexam wasn’t the murderer. Then he posted the paper to Lizzie Hexam's last address.
• He didn’t write a letter to explain anything because if he had written a letter he might have been accused of the murder.
[B] Questions with model Answers
1. "I know that knife!" said Riderhood in surprise. Whose knife was it?
It was George Radfoot's knife.
2. What did the stranger want Riderhood to swear?
The stranger wanted Riderhood to swear that Hexam wasn’t the murderer.
3. Who was: (a) Julius Handford (b) John Rokesmith (c) John Harmon?
Julius Handford (the man who appeared in the police station), Mr. John Rokesmith (Mr. Boffin's secretary) were all the same man – John Harmon!
4. Where had Radfoot taken Harmon when they left the ship?
He had taken him to Riderhood's house to buy sailors' clothes for disguise.
5. What had Radfoot tried to do to Harmon?
He drugged him and tried to kill him by throwing him into the river.
6. What happened to Radfoot?
He drowned in the river, wearing John Harmon's clothes.
7. (John Harmon is dead. Should he come back to life?) What answer did John Harmon decide to give to this question?
John Harmon decided to stay disguised as John Rokesmith and let everybody go on thinking that John Harmon is dead.
8. Bella told Mr. Rokesmith: "This must be the end of this subject, now and for ever," What subject was she speaking about?
She meant his offer of marriage and his useless love to her.
9. The very next day the secretary went back to Riderhood's house. Why?
He went to Riderhood and made him sign a paper to say that Jesse Hexam wasn’t the murderer.
10. John Rokesmith sent Lizzie a paper in the post. Why didn’t he send a letter with this paper?
He posted the paper to Lizzie Hexam. But he didn’t write a letter because if he had written a letter he might have been accused of the murder.
11. How was Riderhood's life after Hexam's death?
People kept away from him and he lived alone in his dark, dirty house.
12. What did Riderhood notice about the visitor?
Riderhood noticed that the visitor's knife and coat belonged to a sailor called George Radfoot. He also noticed that his hand wasn’t as rough as a sailor's hand.
13. Who was George Radfoot?
He was the sailor whom John Harmon had met on his way back to London.
14. What deal did the visitor make with Riderhood?
The visitor told Riderhood that would claim the reward and share it with Riderhood if he swore that Hexam wasn’t the murderer.
15. In your opinion, why did Bella laugh and cry at the same moment?
Bella laughed because she found that John Rokesmith offered to marry her. She cried because she refused to marry him because she only wanted to marry a rich man.
16. Why did John Harmon decide to prove that Jesse Hexam was innocent?
John Harmon decided to prove that Jesse Hexam was innocent for the sake of his son and daughter.
17. "Have I seen you before? You've not been to sea lately, I think." Comment
Riderhood said this to the strange visitor who was dressed like a sailor. He noticed that he wasn’t a real sailor because his hands were too soft.
18. "How did he die? And how did you get his things?" Comment
Riderhood said this to the strange visitor who was dressed in Radfoot's clothes. Riderhood wanted to know how the stranger got his clothes and how he died.
19. "Words can't hurt a dead man."
a) Who said this? To whom?
Riderhood said this to the strange visitor (John Harmon)
b) What did the speaker mean by the above words?
Riderhood meant that his false accusation to Hexam can't hurt him now that he was dead but John Harmon wanted to prove Jesse Hexam was innocent for the sake of his son and daughter.
20. "For their sake, I'll make you swear that Hexam was not the murderer." Comment
John Harmon said this to Riderhood when he wanted him to swear that Jesse Hexam was innocent for the sake of his son and daughter.
21. "I alone know the truth of that dark night."
a) Who said this? To whom?
John Harmon said this to Riderhood
b) What was the truth of that dark night?
John Harmon had a plan with George Radfoot that he should disguise; so they went to Riderhood who sold sailors' clothes. But they tried to kill him and take his clothes and papers to claim his father's fortune.
22. "But you believe that I have forgotten my family and my old home." Comment
Bella Wilfer said these words to John Harmon when she wanted to apologize to him for being rude the last time they had met. But she blamed him for believing she was unfaithful to her family.
23. "You have said more than enough. You know my position here, sir. You know yours. It is not honorable of you to say more."
Bella Wilfer said this to John Harmon when he offered her to marry him. She refused his offer and said that she wanted to marry a rich man.
good luck miss yasmin