 There s been talk of it for months, but when coal miners  wages are lowered, a general strike is called throughout Britain. Richard is dismayed at this, but James, Edward and Norton do their part to fill in a  scab  workers to keep everyday life as ordinary as possible, despite the disruption. Ruby s uncle and a friend visit Eaton Place from Yorkshire and discuss the issues with Hudson, who thinks the entire affair shameful. His views are met with cool disdain by Ruby s uncle, who thinks Hudson and the entire staff are insulated and can t possibly understand their plight or what this strike really means for the working class and the labor movement. After nine days, the strike is settled with a compromise to be hammered out and James has not felt this energized or alive since his days on the French battlefield a decade before.