Tipping the velvet = cunnilingus.  I had no idea.  Along with all the other late 1800’s English slang in this book. 

I bought it at a car boot sale,  because a 75 year old grandmother type recommended it to me and called it ’saucy’!  I had to know what she thought saucy!

It wasn’t trashy… it had some bits of lesbian sex that might have made me blush, but it was never trashy. 

It was like East of Eden meets Charles Dickens.

Very good book,  I’ve never read a story like it,  I’m impressed.