After preaching on the street, and learning from the Custom House officers particulars of the troubles, we engaged a small boat to take us to Sha-shih, and thence hired another to Wu-chang.

There is all the difference between preservation and restoration.

At one point, Gerry McIlroy had two jobs, putting in a 100-hour week as a cleaner and barman, while his mother Rosie worked a night shift in a factory. . . . Rosie and Gerry were like ships that passed in the night.

‘Hey, Rotho!’ He called loudly out to a fishish man on the other side of the pub.