Special Sub-Topic: 'The Tinker's Girl' Authored by: ArleneRimmer Sub-topic of: Cookson, Catherine

Who was Miss Caplin?

a seamstress at the workhouse. Miss Caplin is to appear throughout the book; she is seen as a mother-figure in Jinnie's eyes, and is never known by her given name, Jane. Max also grew up in the workhouse, and was to play an important part in Jinnie's life as a father-figure.

What did Max give Jinnie just before she arrived at Tollet's Ridge?

a cutlery set. The cutlery set had belonged to Jinnie's father, and Max had saved it by hiding it behind some loose bricks in the boiler house. Later Jinnie was to defend herself with the knife, and the wound had to be burnt as the blade was rusty near the handle.

Jinnie was determined that no man should have his way with her - what expression did she use with regard to this?

she would not be handled. This expression was repeated throughout the book - her reaction to Pug and Hal warned Bruce away from approaching her, until it was almost too late.

How did Bruce and Master Richard become friends?

Bruce saved Master Richard's life. Master Richard fell into a gully in the winter, and when Bruce found him he carried him to Tollet's Ridge, where he was nursed back to life, even though he developed rheumatic fever and was in bed for nearly a year. As he recovered, Bruce persuaded him to take up running to get back to full health again.

Who cut off Jinnie's pigtail?

Hal. Jinnie had stabbed his hand with her father's knife the night before, when Hal climbed into her bed. Incensed, Hal lay in wait for her as she walked over to see Miss Caplin and Max, and started to cut her hair; a dog saved her and she ran to the cottage with the cut pigtail in her hand. Max then humiliated him by hanging him on a meat hook and shaving his head - he was to go to sea straight afterwards.

Jinnie went looking for help in torrential rain when Bruce was ill with the fever, but who was to come to the rescue?

Master Richard. The Doctor was reluctant to go to Tollet's Ridge at all, saying that 'they are scum up there', but Master Richard was aware that Bruce had once saved his life, and was determined to do his best for his friend in his time of need.

Bruce was not well enough to go to the autumn market to sell stock in order to survive the winter, so Pug went alone. Later they were to learn that Pug sold everything, including the horse and cart, and left with the money. For how much did he sell the horse?

£5. This defection was to leave Bruce, his mother and Jinnie high and dry at Tollet's Ridge, with no income for the winter, and no means of transport either. Bruce demanded that his mother release the savings (which were under her bed) and from this he worked out that they could just survive.

Who came to live at the farm to save it from total loss that winter?

Max. Max was due to go to another farm in the spring, but was to remain at Tollet's Ridge as Jinnie's 'father'. A giant of a man, he worked as two or three men and was invaluable to Bruce, but until Mrs Shaleman died, he did not go into the house as she was still sore about the punishment he meted out to her son, Hal.

Mrs Shaleman was 'on her last legs' for many years, but easy living had lengthened her life considerably. Some unexpected activity was the cause of her eventual demise - what was she doing?

taking cake from the store cupboard. Jinnie had been given a couple of bottles of homemade wine and some cake from a neighbour, Mrs Stevens. Mrs Shaleman insisted that these were presents for her, not Jinnie, and was determined to have them; it was during the night that she died of drunken excesses. In the morning Bruce and Jinnie cleaned up and put her back in her bed to make believe that she had died of her weakness.

Whom did Jinnie marry?

Bruce. Bruce had been in love with Jinnie almost from the word 'go', but because of her insistence that she was not to be 'handled' he did not show his hand at all. After Master Richard had taken her down, and he found that she did not intend to fight for his hand, Bruce offered his and was accepted in time for her daughter to be born. A few lies about her parentage covered all their tracks and they were set to live 'happily ever after' at Tollet's Ridge with Max.