Chapter 10 Summary

The news about the visit spreads. Jock knows about it an hour afterwards. His gleeful "friends" converge on him to ask what he thinks about the situation. Jock is disgusted by their tone. He tries to dismiss Andy's account as exaggerated, but Barney will not back down. He scoffs at men with shotguns as being afraid of a stone. In truth, though, he is scared.

Jock has changed since taking in Gemmy. His view of his community has been altered to a vast degree. He is having thoughts that are unusual for him. He looks into the hearts of his neighbors and is saddened and angered. He even begins looking at the land differently. Ellen notices this change and is upset by the rift with the neighbors, but is glad that the strife has brought them closer as a couple. They console each...