Chapters 7 and 8 Summary

Uncle John plans to have the people of the estate share in the profits of the season rather than to work for hourly wage. The idea is to have the people have a vested interest in the results of the harvest, making them more willing to work hard at making the estate profitable. The plan is John's answer to rebellions around the world, including those that resulted in beheadings in France. John says that Julia and Richard, as the next managers of the estate, must buy into the plan for it to work. When Richard presents it to Ralph, he's skeptical. He says that it depends on the people's trust of the owners, and that the trust doesn't exist. Richard hurriedly says that John will agree to simply pay wages if Ralph suggests it.

Uncle John catches Julia gardening. He asks...