Our Mutual Friend, Book 4: A Turning, Chapter 1 summary
Book 4: A Turning, Chapter 1 of 68 · 19 min to read the chapter
In Chapter 1, Bradley Headstone follows Eugene Wrayburn upriver in clothes copied from Riderhood, pays the lockkeeper, and returns distraught after seeing Eugene with an unnamed woman. Riderhood tests whether Bradley deliberately imitates him by wearing a distinctive red neckerchief, then discovers a matching, artificially stained scarf beneath Bradley’s coat.
What happens
- Eugene passes through Riderhood’s lock, mocks him, and continues upriver while Bradley watches in a bargeman’s disguise.
- Bradley admits following Eugene, voices violent resentment, pays Riderhood two sovereigns, and promises to return after seeing Eugene with the woman.
- Riderhood puts on a red neckerchief to test whether Bradley deliberately copies his clothes.
- Bradley returns for rest, studies the neckerchief, discusses drowning at the lock, and resumes following Eugene at daylight.
- During a thunderstorm, Bradley returns exhausted, reports seeing Eugene with the woman, suffers a nosebleed, and falls asleep.
- Riderhood opens the sleeping man’s coat and discovers a matching red neckerchief with deliberately added stains.
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In this chapter
What to notice
Bradley treats pursuit as an urgent necessity. His refusal to stop connects his disguise, exhaustion, and mounting anger.
Quick check
How does Riderhood test whether Bradley deliberately copies his appearance?
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