Chains

Isabel is so exhausted that she falls asleep in church the next morning. Things seem normal for the next two days; Master Lockton is busy visiting the mayor, and Madam stays upstairs. Madam insists that only Becky can serve her, since she’s afraid of Ruth. Becky and Isabel don’t keep Ruth away from the milk, they just hurry Ruth downstairs whenever they hear Madam coming. Ruth is oblivious to all of this, but she helps Isabel check the “mystery garden” every morning. The shoots are two hands high now.

Isabel repeats “ad astra” over and over until it feels like a prayer. Becky’s gossip from the market gets wilder and wilder, and the weather gets even hotter. Two days after Isabel’s visit with Colonel Regan, there’s a pounding on the kitchen door. It’s Goldbuttons, dressed in a cloak. He runs right upstairs to the Locktons’ bedroom—and moments later, Lockton bellows in anger. The plot to kill General Washington has been uncovered. Isabel runs to fetch Madam home from a friend’s house.

When Isabel and Madam return, Lockton is pacing. He says he’s sent for a cart, and they must burn all his papers. Madam sends Isabel for firewood—and when Isabel gets back to the library, Madam accuses Lockton of abandoning her. He insists she’ll be fine; she has to stay here so the Patriots don’t steal everything. Madam throws things and refuses to be left behind, but Lockton hits her hard enough to send her tumbling to the ground. He’s going, and it’s her duty to stay. Later, a man arrives and nails Lockton into a crate labeled “cheese.” Once he’s gone, Madam spends the day burning her husband’s papers.

Soldiers arrive at dawn and find nothing, so they stomp away. Becky heads for the market, and when she returns, Madam demands to hear the news or gossip. Madam’s face is bruised, and it’s clear she’s sore and hurt. Becky lists the people who were arrested and says that a man named Hickey, who served with Washington, revealed the plot. She insists that Lockton is safe.