Reading the Chunksters discussion

Sorry - this one is long overdue! It covers chapters 5 to 8 of Book 3.

Chapter summaries:
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5. Boffin discusses terms with Rokesmith, and offers him wages (not a salary) of £200 pa on condition that he remains available at all times. Mrs Boffin backs him up but says that he has changed. Boffin takes Bella shopping and takes an interest in bookshops, asking her to help him find books that tell the stories of misers – they buy a number of books. Mrs Lammle, who is now a regular visitor at the Boffin, takes an interest in Bella. She introduces Fledgeby to her, but she is not impressed. Bella and Mrs Boffin observe Boffin getting meaner in his treatment of Rokesmith.

6. Wegg’s continuing education of Boffin is described. Wegg discusses the search of the mounds with Venus, who wants to abandon the search. Boffin arrives with a cab full of new books. Wegg starts reading some of them to him, the narrator summarises what is read. Boffin takes a dark lantern outside to look at the mounds. Wegg and Venus follow surreptitiously. They watch Boffin dig up a bottle from the third mound (the one he was bequeathed). Wegg slips on their way back, and they are almost discovered by Boffin.

7. Wegg tells Venus that he has found something interesting – a cash box containing papers, including a will written by old Harmon in which Boffin is bequeathed one mound and the rest is left to the State – he confirms that he has checked the date of the proved will and that this one was made later. Venus takes Wegg to his shop to look at the will undisturbed by Boffin, but having locked the doors he insists on keeping it, and Wegg reluctantly agrees. They plot how and when to exploit the revelation. Venus declares a secret interest in Pleasant Riderhood.

8. We hear about Betty Higden’s travels, as she attempts to sell her wares. This becomes increasingly difficult and she finds it hard to stop people interfering. A Deputy accosts her and asks her what her Parish is, and she is forced to give him her meagre savings to remain free. She finds a mill, where she dies, and is found dying by Lizzie Hexam.

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Thanks, Hugh, I was waiting to start this section until you posted the thread so I can get back to reading it. The story was just beginning to make more sense when I last read it on January 31st. I look forward to the comments.

I read this section awhile back, so I'll need to refresh my memory with the summaries and then see if I can remember what I wanted to post.

I'll then start reading again from the end of this section.

This section was sad for me. Starting with the change in character for Boffin who I really liked up until this point and ending with the death of Betty.

There was some light relief though in the scene in with Venus. I loved Wegg trying to subtly hint at Venus with his wooden leg!

This section's focus on the Wegg/Venus scheme meant no advance in the romantic plots. Maybe in the next section There is such an abundance of characters and side plots in this book-even Betty gets a chapter, though her demise also serves to allow Lizzie to reappear.
I had almost commented earlier that I wished Mr. Venus would reappear and take a larger role, Now that he has, I should be careful about what I want. He does add an extra element to Wegg's villainy, though, and I do find their relationship to be an interesting one.

Sorry, I'm just now finding the time to comment here.

I agree with Brian - there are just so many characters! I had gotten invested in the Lizzie romance plot in the last section that going back to some of these other characters was a bit jarring. Frankly, I didn't really care for Betty's chapter even though she was suppose to tug at my heart strings.

I am curious what's going to happen with Wegg and Venus finding this other will. One question, what are these "mounds" that Wegg is visiting? Are they cemetery plots, and one is set aside for him? Or am I completely off here?

I feel bad for Mrs. Boffin and how her husband's character is changing for the worse. And what's with him collecting all these books on misers? Like he needs some point of reference so that he can compete for being a miser himself?