# XI: Some Affairs of the Heart explained — Our Mutual Friend

> Chapter companion for Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens.

## What happens

Miss Peecher, a schoolteacher, secretly loves Bradley Headstone and observes his preoccupation. Bradley visits her to leave his key, then heads to Lizzie Hexam's home. There, Lizzie and Jenny Wren discuss a lady who loves a man deeply, willing to sacrifice everything for him.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Marriage

Explores unrequited love (Miss Peecher for Bradley) and passionate love (Lizzie's story of a lady's devotion).

### Identity and Disguise

Lizzie's story about a lady who is rich and beautiful contrasts with her own reality, hinting at hidden identities.

## Character check-ins

### Miss Peecher

Observes Bradley Headstone with secret affection, questions Mary Anne about Lizzie Hexam.

### Bradley Headstone

Preoccupied and brooding, visits Miss Peecher to leave his key, then heads to Lizzie Hexam's home.

### Lizzie Hexam

Visits Jenny Wren, discusses a lady who loves a man deeply and is willing to sacrifice for him.

### Jenny Wren

The dolls' dressmaker, listens to Lizzie's story and expresses concern for her.

### Mary Anne

Miss Peecher's student, provides information about Lizzie Hexam.

### Charley Hexam

Mentioned as having gone to get books and as being displeased with his sister Lizzie.

## Key lines

> Love, though said to be afflicted with blindness, is a vigilant watchman, and Miss Peecher kept him on double duty over Mr. Bradley Headstone.

Despite the saying that love is blind, Miss Peecher was very watchful of Bradley Headstone.

_Highlights Miss Peecher's secret and observant affection._

> Love at first sight is a trite expression quite sufficiently discussed; enough that in certain smouldering natures like this man's, that passion leaps into a blaze, and makes such head as fire does in a rage of wind, when other passions, but for its mastery, could be held in chains.

Love at first sight is a cliché, but for someone like Bradley, it ignites uncontrollably, overpowering all other emotions.

_Describes Bradley's intense and sudden passion for Lizzie._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/xi-some-affairs-of-the-heart
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/our_mutual_friend_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters