Home › By Charles Dickens › By Charles Dickens: Bella

By Charles Dickens: Bella

He acquired, too, a ward and a secretary. Bella Wilfer had been named in the Harmon will as the son's future bride. Her blighted hopes so troubled Mr. Boffin that he installed her in his home, treating her like a beloved daughter. And soon after John Harmon disappeared there came into London a mysterious John Rokesmith, who obtained the position of secretary. A secretive man was John Rokesmith, unwilling to speak of his past. Rogue Riderhood, former partner and now sworn enemy to Jesse Hexam, set afoot suspicions that Hexam had murdered John Harmon, and the law trailed the vulture of the Thames. It found Jesse dangling behind his boat, as so many had dangled there before, swept overboard and caught in his rope. Eugene Wrayburn was one of the trailers and again he looked into the clear eyes of Lizzie Hexam.