# Inigo Jumps Out of a Train and Finds Himself in Love explained — The Good Companions

> Chapter companion for The Good Companions by J. B. Priestley.

## What happens

On a train journey to Middleford, Susie Dean shares the story of her childhood as the daughter of musical comedy performers, while Inigo Jollifant falls deeply in love with her. The Good Companions travel together, playing cards and telling fortunes, and Inigo experiences both the joy and melancholy of his feelings for Susie.

## Themes in this chapter

### Adventure and Self-Discovery

Inigo's journey with the Good Companions leads him to discover his deep feelings for Susie, marking a personal transformation.

### Art and Performance

Susie's childhood memories of her parents' life in musical comedy highlight the world of performance and its impact on her identity.

### Luck and Superstition

Mrs. Joe Brundit's story about a superstitious actor and the group's discussion of luck reflect the theme's presence in the chapter.

## Character check-ins

### Inigo Jollifant

Falls in love with Susie Dean during the train journey, listens to her life story, and feels a mix of happiness and melancholy.

### Susie Dean

Recounts her childhood as the daughter of touring musical comedy performers, falls asleep against Inigo's shoulder, and participates in the group's banter.

### Jimmy Nunn

Organizes card games and comments on the train's progress toward Middleford.

### Joe Brundit

Plays solo whist and is involved in the discussion about luck and superstition.

### Jerry Jerningham

Engages in banter with Elsie Longstaff and Susie Dean, and is teased about his appearance.

### Elsie Longstaff

Teases Jerry Jerningham and dozes during the journey.

## Key lines

> You’re in for an awful time, Inigo, she began, smiling vaguely at him. I’m going to tell you the story of my life.

Susie warns Inigo that she is about to share her life story with him.

_Susie begins recounting her childhood to Inigo on the train._

> I can remember a dressing-case thing Dad always had with him and it was a wedding present and had something on it, you know: ‘With the Best Wishes of the Florodora Company, Manchester,’ and all the rest of it.

Susie recalls a dressing case her father kept, a wedding gift inscribed by the Florodora Company in Manchester.

_Susie's memory of her father's theatrical past._

> It’s melancholy, you know, he said slowly. I ought to be happy here alone with you, Susie. I believe it’s been my idea of happiness for some time.

Inigo tells Susie that being alone with her is his idea of happiness, yet it feels melancholy.

_Inigo expresses his conflicted feelings of love and sadness._

> Pretty Mister Jerningham Came from Birmingham, Where he’d been learning ’em, And some say turning ’em Up up up.

Susie teases Jerry Jerningham with a playful rhyme about his origins.

_Susie's banter with Jerry Jerningham._

> It was a gigantic plaid ulster and its collar was decorated with a few inches of fur from some mysterious and long extinct species.

Mitcham's overcoat, called the Silver King, is a large plaid ulster with a fur collar from an unknown animal.

_Description of Morton Mitcham's distinctive overcoat._

## Links

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