“Has madam made her choice?”

As he waited, he gave me a wink, and I knew then that Robert had set up the whole thing with him. I smiled back.

“I believe I will start with the baked apples, and then the smoked Finnan haddock with eggs and potatoes, and a pot of tea,” I said, doing my best to imitate how I thought toffs would talk. “Oh, and perhaps a scone with blackcurrant jam.”

“Very well, madam,” he said, and left.

While I waited, I looked around the room. Passengers were beginning to drift in. I admired the women’s finery: silk dresses, silk stockings and fine leather boots. And some wore hats, even at this time of the morning! The men were just as smartly dressed, with gleaming white shirts and collars, and tailored jackets. I was glad I had worn my best dress. But as a few of the women looked my way, I stuck my feet under my chair so they wouldn’t see the plain, cheap boots I was wearing. When I bought them in Donegal Town, I’d been told by the saleswoman they were the last word in fashion. A lot she knew! Stubbornly, I stuck my little finger out as I picked up my teacup and raised my chin as the women moved past me. But even though I tried to act as if I hadn’t a care in the world, deep down the fear of whether I’d ever fit in with this new world roiled in my stomach.

The feeling passed, and Robert came to escort me from the table. I wanted so much to stay in this lovely place, surrounded by beautiful people. But I knew if we lingered it wouldn’t be long before we were found out. I didn’t want him getting in trouble, so I stood up as gracefully as I could, took his arm and walked with him to the door, my head held high.

When we got back down to the third-class deck, the two of us collapsed laughing. It had been great craic altogether. Robert said he’d be back for the dancing tonight. It would be the last night of the journey; we were to dock in New York the next day. The craic tonight would be even better, with all the young ones determined to make the most of their last night together.