Well established in public favour as a successful author, Mulock took a cottage at Wildwood, North End, Hampstead, and joined an extensive social circle. Her personal attractions were at this period in her life were considerable, and people kindly ascribed to her simple cordiality, staunch friendliness, and thorough goodness of heart. In 1857 she published the work by which she would be principally remembered, "John Halifax, Gentleman", a presentation of the ideals of English middle-class life. Mulock's next important work, "A Life for a Life" (1859), made more money and was perhaps at the time more widely read than "John Halifax". It was followed by "Mistress and Maid" (1863) and "Christian's Mistake" (1865), followed by didactic works such as "A Woman's Thoughts about Women" and "Sermons out of Church." Another collection, entitled "The Unkind Word and Other Stories", included a scathing criticism of Benjamin Heath Malkin for overworking his son Thomas, a child prodigy who died at the age of seven. Craik criticizes Malkin for acceding to Thomas's requests to be educated at an early age, believing it contributed to his death, but also admits that Malkin's other sons did well in life.