‘Drunken men who’ve been grafting hard all week are often on the edge on a Saturday night,’ Blackie told him. ‘Boozing it up, letting loose …’ He paused, cleared his throat, then added in a lighter tone, ‘It would be better to go and find Moira during the day. Or ye could send her a letter and ask her to meet ye somewhere. The Bank is not a place to be going at night, to be sure …’

‘It sounds bad, it does, Blackie. Still, I do want ter meet this girl. I knows I looks like a ha’porth of nowt, but I am strong.’ Finn bent his arm, and added, ‘I’ve got ever such strong muscles.’ He grinned. ‘Awright, Blackie, I’ll go to the Bank during the day. I have faith ye knows best.’

‘Good lad,’ Blackie said, relief echoing. ‘I knew ye’d see the sense of it …’ He paused and waved as he spotted his uncle coming up the drive. To Finn he said quickly, ‘Let’s keep this to ourselves for the time being.’

‘Sure, Blackie,’ Finn promised, ‘I’ll not say a word.’

Blackie nodded, stood up when Patrick arrived at the back steps, and exclaimed, ‘Ye’ve arrived at the right time, Uncle Pat. We’ve just finished our sandwiches. So come on, let’s go inside.’

‘Hello, Blackie. Hello, Finn. And yes, I’m right on the dot. So take me to see the kitchen. I’m sure this is special.’

‘It’s a masterpiece,’ Finn said. He then turned to his friend’s uncle and said, ‘Let me get ye some dusters to tie round your shoes. The floor is all new tiles, black and white. Blackie doesn’t want it to get scuffed by our boots.’

Patrick nodded and waited outside on the steps. Finn tied on the yellow cotton dusters that he’d left there earlier.

Blackie motioned for his uncle to enter and they both sat and put the dusters over their boots in silence.

Patrick was eager to see his nephew’s work, knowing how much effort had gone into this room. Nonetheless, he was astonished when he stood in the centre of the floor and looked around a few seconds later.

In fact, he was somewhat awestruck by the extraordinary effect Blackie had created: the sparkling white walls, the smart new cupboards, the modern range and the new windows. He exclaimed, ‘Lad, you’ve outdone yourself. The room looks sensational. All this white, and the big window over there is grand.’

‘It’s really like a wall,’ Blackie said. Taking hold of his uncle’s arm, he led him over, and continued, ‘It doesn’t open. There are windows over there, and they open, but not this glass.’