Nicholas wasn't as sympathetic as he could be, nor did he really grasp that Boucher wasn't made of sterner stuff the way he was. But Nicholas was correct in saying that if men like Boucher caved, the union would never succeed in getting fair wages to support themselves and their families. But he wasn't entirely without compassion - he gave Boucher money out of his own pocket to Boucher to feed his children and promised him they wouldn't starve, so Boucher didn't HAVE to cave. And Nicholas was true to his word.