"You love me, don't you, Jonnie?"You'd better love me."I didn't mean to hurt you. I just get scared. I've got nobody but you."And you're alive."I love you, Jonnie. I'll never let you go. I love you to death."The Industrial Revolution blackens the countryside.Women and children hack at coal underground and drag loaded tubs like animals.Rattle is one of them: a dirty, pipe-smoking, swearing collier-wench who dresses and swaggers like a boy.But Rattle is in love with Jonathan Turner, a young farmer and a prim, God-fearing Methodist.Rattle is determined to have him. But he's already married.To a ghost.