Our Mutual Friend Book 2, Part 8, Chapter 9

In Which the Orphan Makes His Will

• The young man named Sloppy (snicker) shows up at the house of Mr. Boffin to let everyone know that the orphan child Mr. and Mrs. Boffin wanted to adopt (little Johnny) has become dangerously ill.
• Once they get to Betty Higden's house, they realize just how bad things are and send for a doctor. The doctor can only tell them that they should have called sooner. It's too late for the child now.
• The ordeal doesn't last very long before Johnny dies. Now Mr. and Mrs. Boffin have no one to fill the place of the dead John Harmon.