# Jim's Marriage and the New Inspector explained — Robbery Under Arms

> Chapter companion for Robbery Under Arms by Rolf Boldrewood.

## What happens

Jim Marston marries Jeanie Morrison, who has come to the Turon diggings despite his warnings about the dangers of his life. Jeanie insists on a quiet cottage life away from the goldfield's chaos. Meanwhile, George Storefield is seen prospering as a respectable businessman, and the arrival of the new police inspector, Sir Ferdinand Morringer, a baronet and former Guards officer, stirs talk on the field. Maddie Barnes watches the wedding with hidden sorrow, revealing her unrequited love for Jim.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Sacrifice

Jeanie's willingness to leave Melbourne and risk a wild life for Jim, and Maddie's silent heartbreak at the wedding.

### Class and Social Mobility

George Storefield's rise from digger to respected businessman, contrasted with the rigid social hierarchy of the goldfield.

### Honor and Morality

Jim's attempt to go straight after marriage, and the moral tension between his past crimes and his desire for a respectable life.

## Character check-ins

### Jim Marston

Marries Jeanie Morrison after buying a cottage; determined to go straight and leave his outlaw past behind.

### Jeanie Morrison

Jim's bride; a quiet, timid, and pretty girl who insists on a quiet home life and blames Starlight and Dick for Jim's troubles.

### Maddie Barnes

Watches Jim's wedding with hidden tears, revealing her unspoken love for him.

### George Storefield

Seen driving a dogcart and treated as an equal by the Commissioner; has become a prosperous businessman.

### Sir Ferdinand Morringer

New Inspector of Police on the goldfield; a baronet and former Guards officer, much talked about by the miners.

### Dick Marston

Narrator; observes the wedding and reflects on Jim's hopes for a straight life and the danger of their past.

### Captain Starlight

Mentioned as trying to dissuade Jim from marrying, fearing it would complicate their outlaw situation.

## Key lines

> Jeanie didn’t look so bad, and she was that glad to see Jim again and to find him respected as a hardworking well-to-do miner that she forgot most of her disappointments and forgave him his share of any deceit that had been practised upon her and her sister.

Jeanie was relieved to see Jim doing well as a miner, and her joy made her overlook his past deceptions.

_Highlights Jeanie's forgiving nature and her focus on Jim's current respectability._

> She would always be his own Jeanie, and was willing to run any kind of risk so as to be with him and near him, and so on.

Jeanie declared she would take any risk to stay with Jim.

_Emphasizes Jeanie's devotion and willingness to sacrifice safety for love._

> Nobody took much notice of poor Maddie, but I watched her pretty close, and saw the tears come into her eyes, though she let ’em run down her face before she’d pull out her handkerchief.

Maddie cried silently during the wedding, unnoticed by most, but Dick observed her sorrow.

_Reveals Maddie's hidden grief and unrequited love for Jim._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/robbery_under_arms_se/chapters/xxx
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/robbery_under_arms_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/robbery_under_arms_se/chapters