“I didn’t understand at first why Michael and Siobhan said Dennis had to see me onto the ship. But I’m glad he he did. The docks were noisy, busy with people getting on ships to America, Canada, all kinds of places. I needed him to survive it.…” Blackie paused; after a moment, he added, “And will ye have to repay Dennis for minding me, a’ course?”

Patrick nodded. “He’d have kept an eye on you; his mother and Father O’Donovan arranged that. But yes, I gave him some money for his trouble. Always pay your debts, Blackie, and be sure to make it earlier than later. That puts you on the winner’s side, sure and it does. And people will trust you, and favor you.”

“I’ll heed that advice, and I hope to learn a lot from ye, Uncle Pat, and in every way, not just about carpentry and building.”

Patrick Kennedy simply nodded and reached for a satchel on the seat next to him. Opening it, he took out two bottles and handed one to Blackie. “Your aunt Eileen always keeps the medicine bottles from the doctor and, as you see, they come in useful. There’s water in there, clean drinking water.”

Next he took out two packets of sandwiches and again gave one to his nephew. “Sliced ham, the best I could do,” he said, removing the greaseproof paper wrapping.

Blackie thanked him, and said, “I’m ravenous.…” He paused, and added, “But then I always am.”

“I know. None of us gets enough nourishing food. When did you last eat, Blackie?”

“Yesterday. A packet of bread and cheese Siobhan gave me. Same the day before.”

Patrick sighed, thinking of the state of the country, not only of Ireland but England as well. The greatest empire in the world. The rich lived off the fat of the land while the poor had to manage on the scraps carelessly thrown to them. Would there never be a change for the better? There were moments when he thought about entering politics, wondering if he could bring about change. But generally he dismissed it before the idea, the thought of it, took hold. He preferred to make money.

Hard work had never bothered him; he went at it with drive, determination and enthusiasm. He sensed the same ambition in his nephew, which was why he had brought him to Leeds, to better himself, to give Blackie a chance to make some good money.

Somebody had once said that money was the source of all evil. In Patrick’s opinion, it was the source of good health and a secure life. He would somehow manage to dodge the so-called evil.

There was a companionable silence between the two of them as they ate the ham sandwiches and drank the water, and the train rolled on to the north.