Summary

Chapter 5. The chapter opens as the local villagers gather around Savory’s food cart. Bob’s father, Mr. Foster, and the overseer’s brother engage in a discussion about Mr. Slime. They don’t know the circumstances surrounding Mr. Slime’s resignation but they trust Mr. Slilme. Mr. Slime, who is organizing a shipping strike, is currently away negotiating wages with the authorities and the villagers are waiting for him to return. The men joke that the landlord, Creighton, will give out small sums of money to those in need, but is not readily willing to pay for larger projects, such as fixing the roads after the flood.

The men call Mr. Slime, “chief,” and talk about how he won his seat in the general election the year after he left the school. They all agree that times are changing. The men briefly reflect on...