Catherine Cookson's The Rag Nymph

When "Raggie Aggie" Winkowski, a rag-and-bone lady in the slums of Newcastle, meets ten-year-old Millie Forester, the daughter of a prostitute, her well-ordered existence takes a severe jolt.

As the years pass, Millie is growing into an attractive young lady.

When a stranger turns up on her doorstep claiming to be Millie's father, Aggie's suspicions are aroused. Meanwhile, Slim Boswell, a local pimp, takes more than a passing interest in Millie.