Mrs. Tinkham is a lady, as they say, of “indeterminate old age.” On her head she wears a black felt beret with a bird, and only in it does she allow herself to go outside. There is no more accurate information about her. It is only known that when asked about the existence of Mr. Tinkham (whose widow this old woman introduces herself), she usually answers: “He left me a long, long time ago!”, and waves her hand somewhere in the direction of the Victoria Embankment. This is why some simple-minded listeners believe that Mr. Tinkham ended his days in the murky waters of the Thames. Mrs. Tinkham is extremely sociable and is always ready to talk with strangers, which often becomes a real test for tourists and those who have settled in the city recently.