Itis1838andwhilstJohnandDanielcelebratethereprieveoftheTolpuddleMartyrsthenewPoorLawdriveseconomicmigrantsfromSouthernEnglandtothemillintheformofagriculturalworkerJohnHowlettandhisfamilyandshoemakerAbeWhittakerandhisgrandsonWill,whotakesashinetoEsther.HannahhasalsobroughtPeter,afreedslavefromtheformerplantation,toworkinthegardenwhilstRobertisnowanMPandyoungerbrotherWilliam,thefatherofSusannah’seldestchild,isinchargeofthemill.EstherthreatenstotellHannahofherson’sindiscretionunlessherecognizeswhenherindenturesendandloanshermoneyforsisterMartha,stillunemployed.Sheissuccessfulbutwagesarecut,WilliamattemptingtoblamethefactontheCornLaws.HoweverDanielknowsthatWilliamintendstospendthemoneysavedonmoremachinery.JohnHowlettfailstoseethisandrefusestocountenanceDaniel’sproposalthattheyespousetheunionthoughPeterismoresympathetic.
