There was a quiet, cheerless laugh when John suggested helping Kate with her schoolwork, but Bill stopped when his son mentioned needlework. He had pictured John helping Kate with her writing or arithmatic and the idea was laughable. Even in the reform school, it seemed, Bill had learned more of the three R's than John seemed to have learned from several years in elementary school. But he supposed that in the particular area of needlework, John had expertise, if Kate needed it.

"Joe's determined to take after t' example ye set when ye were 'ome before, including ending up in t' dock," he said, shaking his head. "If ye can talk sense into him now that yer all reformed, please do. As for the railway, got a new driver to work with. Old Mr. Jones got sick. And yer brother lost 'is job, but yer mum probably told ye that."