When Joanie is tried at the assizes, she is found guilty even though many speak on her behalf, saying that she did not start the riot and gave the money to the merchant. The judge says that the punishment should be death, but they have decided to be lenient, so the sentence is changed to transportation. That means she will be transported to Australia for fifteen years, which means that she will probably never come back. Sal and Jarge, who have married, say that they will look after Sue.
The book then moves forward in time. It is 1799, and in this part once again Hornbeam becomes an ogre for the poor workers. He has brought new machines, which will mean he will let some people go. Sal sees this, and she and Spade start a union, and the weavers go on strike. That does not stop Hornbeam, and he brings Irish workers to work his factories. That does not feel well with Jarge, who thinks they should beat up the Irish, but Sal and Spade tell him that it will be worse for them as they could get the same fate as Joanie.
As with the stike Jarge doesn't work, he starts spending more and more time at the inn and drinking more. One evening he gets home, and drunk as he is, he hits Kit. Sal sees red and beats up her husband, threatening him. Jarge ends up crying and asking for forgiveness. Sal tells him that if he hits Kit again, he will regret it.
There is a brawl between a local and Irish man and Hornbeam tells Riddick to send the militia. Dozens of people are arrested, but with Hornbeam's influence the Irish are allowed to go. Hornbeam tries to blame Sal and Jarge, but they weren't in the place where the brawl took place. Yet, he leaves the court saying that the unions will be forbidden one day.
What he refers to is a bill that the government intends to pass, which means association of workers will be banned. Sal, Spade and Jarge are outraged, and they bring a lawyer from London and they intend to send a document with the signatures of the workers to London.
I think that Hornbeam and Riddick are awful, but they exemplify splendidly how some men back then were really cruel towards the lower classes.
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