Our Mutual Friends

No, no.'

'But you must be looking for someone, sir,' said the Inspector,

'or you would not be here. Are you from London, sir, or from the

country? Perhaps you would leave me your name?'

'Yes, of course.'

"Mr Julius Handford," wrote the young man, his hand shaking

a little. "Exchequer Coffee House, Westminster."

Then with one last frightened look at Mortimer Lightwood,

Mr Julius Handford hurried out into the dark street.

Mortimer and Eugene went home together and Charley

Hexam returned alone to his sister.

The girl was sitting beside the fire as before. She looked up

with a smile as Charley came into the room.

'I thought father would be angry when he saw you could

write,' Lizzie said. 'If only I could make him see that learning is

a good thing. You do work hard at school, don't you, Charley?'

'You know I do, Lizzie.'

'Your learning will take you away from the river and this

terrible life. How I wish that I could read and write too! But

Father wouldn't like it. Perhaps, one day, I can change him. I

hate the river. It brings nothing but unhappiness.'

And the girl looked up at the terrible notices on the walls:

"Body Found. Body Found".

At the inquest3, the dead man was identified3 as Mr John Harmon,

who had recently returned from abroad. The body had been in the

river for some days and was badly injured. John Harmon had not

been drowned, but murdered. But how had he died and who had

killed him?

From that time on, the name of Jesse Hexam and Murder were

spoken of together. Lizzie saw people turn away from her father

and refuse to speak to him. More than ever, the great, black river

seemed a place of fear and death.

14

The Harmon Murder

At last, Lizzie made up her mind to send Charley away. He

would never be able to rise in the world1 while he lived with his

father.

Lizzie had saved a little money. She gave some of this to her

brother.

'You must leave here, Charley,' she said. 'I will stay here with

Father, but you must go away.'

'Must?' repeated Charley. 'Do you want to get rid of me? Isn't

there enough food for the three of us?'

'You know that's not true,' said Lizzie. 'You must go to a better

school. They will teach you and help you to get a living. I'll send

you some more money when I can. Perhaps Mr Lightwood will

help a little.'

'Don't ask that other one, that Mr Wrayburn for anything,'

said Charley sharply. 'I didn't like the way he spoke to me. And

I didn't like the way he looked at you.'

Lizzie gave her brother some food to take with him.

'Now remember, Charley. Never listen to anything bad about

Father. It will not be true. Goodbye, my darling. Go now, before

Father comes back.'

When she was alone, Lizzie cried a little. Then she looked into

the bright fire and dreamt of the future. Did she see her brother

working hard and making a success of his life? Did she see herself

as a lady1, clever and beautiful? Did she see a fine gentleman who

would love her and take her far away from the cold, dark river?

15

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