Chapter 8 Summary

George Abbot is out walking with a book one day when he is approached by Mrs. Hutchence. She is a reclusive lady who lives far out of the settlement and is renowned for enlisting locals for labor. She is mysterious; no one knows where she has come from, only that she has a young woman living with her named Leona. Mrs. Hutchence owns a real house, not a hut, and is continually asks the other settlers to move her furniture. The house is a wonder; people come from all around to see the first fancy "real" house in the area.

In this instance, George has only to help her drag a large branch back to her house. They arrive and take off their shoes to enter. George is shocked to recognize most of the people already there: Gemmy, Janet and Meg McIvor and...