Chapters 19 and 20, and Epilogue Summary

Word of Beatrice's determination to sell the wheat in London spreads and she notes that the people of the village have their fingers across their thumbs in a one-handed cross—a common sign to ward off witches. She does not comment but it affects her deeply. There is no respite at home either. The pile of bills due remind her that she is facing bankruptcy and is real danger of losing Wideacre. She spends every day on the land, watching the harvest and refusing that the people working pick up so much as a pocketful of wheat—a tradition that has been honored for generations. Now she says it is theft and will be punished. She says there will be gleaners for the Hall to go over the field first and then the people may...