Delegations of the mill owners and workers meet at a local hotel to discuss the strike, but they cannot agree. Harry Carson is especially vocal against conceding to the workers. Harry draws a derogatory caricature of the workers once they are gone and tosses it toward the fire but misses, leading a worker to take it and bring it to a union meeting later that day. This angers Barton. The men plot together and draw lots to determine who will murder one of the mill owners.

Two days later, Will comes to see Mary and tells her that his ship is sailing in a few days. He is leaving Manchester that night. He hopes to be promoted at his next sailing and wants to propose to Margaret when he returns. John Barton comes home and is abrupt with Will, who bids them goodbye. Mary is confused at her father’s coldness, and she cannot coax him to eat before he goes to Glasgow to speak to their trades’ unions. Job visits and Barton is rude to him too. John leaves, but when he reaches the end of the road, he returns to hug Mary and say goodbye.