He would continue to work and they would all three continue to do without most of the necessaries of life.

When there was no work they would starve.
For himself he did not care much because he knew that at the best--or worst--it would only be a very few years.

Even if he were to have proper food and clothing and be able to take reasonable care of himself, he could not live much longer; but when that time came, what was to become of THEM?
There would be some hope for the boy if he were more robust and if his character were less gentle and more selfish.

Under the present system it was impossible for anyone to succeed in life without injuring other people and treating them and making use of them as one would not like to be treated and made use of oneself.
In order to succeed in the world it was necessary to be brutal, selfish and unfeeling: to push others aside and to take advantage of their misfortunes: to undersell and crush out one's competitors by fair means or foul: to consider one's own interests first in every case, absolutely regardless of the wellbeing of others.
That was the ideal character.

Owen knew that Frankie's character did not come up to this lofty ideal.