Jakin, Bob

Tom Tulliver's ragged holiday companion and staunch friend, gifted with volubility, much native wit, and cunning. "Bob knew, directly he saw a bird's egg, whether it was a swallow's, or a tomtit's, or a yellow-hammer's; he found out all the wasps' nests, and could set all sorts of traps; he could climb the trees like a squirrel, and had quite a magical power of detecting hedgehogs and stoats; and he had courage to do things that were rather naughty, such as . . . killing a cat that was wandering incognito . . . For a person suspected of preternatural wickedness, Bob was really not so very villainous-looking; there was even something agreeable in his snubnosed face, with its close-curled border of red hair." When he grows up he becomes a prosperous packman, with a ready tongue and unfailing good nature which, together with his broad thumb, worst even Aunt Glegg in a bargain. His friendship for Tom Tulliver and his admiration for Maggie prompt him to help Tom make some money by trading. For awhile Tom Tulliver lodges in Bob's house by the river, and it is from Bob's house that Maggie, who is lodging there when the flood comes, goes in her row-boat to rescue Tom at the mill. The original of Bob Jakin was William Jaques, a schoolmate of George Eliot's at Griff. (See Blind, George Eliot, p. 21 ; Cooke, George Eliot, p. 7.)

<em>The Mill on the Floss</em>

Text