Once Nicholas has talked out his grief over Bessy's death, the conversation turns to the failed strike. Nicholas says that the mill he worked at- Hamper's- won't have him back. Mr. Hale attempts to question him about the effect of American cotton on workers' wages, but Nicholas freely admits that he doesn't understand economics. This leads Hale to wonder if matters might run moore smoothly if masters and workers formed a board and actually explained their positions to each other, wondering aloud if Mr. Thornton might be interested in such an approach. Margaret is dubious, and Nicholas becomes angry at the mention of Mr. Thornton. He blames him for the failure of the strike, because Thornton brought in Irish hands, causing the riot, and then refused to press charges against Boucher and the other rioters which gained sympathy for the owners. Margaret tells him that Mr. Thornton was right not to press charges, then wonders why Boucher was involved in the strike, since he clearly was unwilling and unsuited for it. Nicholas says that the workers must hang together to accomplish anything, and that the union has "ways and means" for dealing with any dissenters. Margaret asks what that means and Nicholas says that any millworkers who wouldn't join would be shunned by everyone, ignored and given the silent treatment. He says that he's seen workers be shunned for a year and more. Margaret is aghast, saying that the union is every bit as much a tyrant as they claim the mill owners to be. Mr. Hale is afraid that Higgins will be offended by Margaret's words but he says that he can't be angry when he remembers how Bessy loved her. Before he takes his leave, Mr. Hale asks Nicholas if he will allow him to pray for him and Nicholas, despite his unbelief, agrees:
"Margaret the Churchwoman, her father the Dissenter, Higgins the Infidel, knelt down together. It did them no harm."