Mary Barton: Chapter 13 Summary & Analysis

Several days later, Will invites Mary to Job’s for a gathering. When Mary asks who else will attend, Will says Jem won’t—he’s too mopey. At Job’s, Job quizzes Will on the flora and fauna of the countries he’s sailed to. Will tells a story about a sailor friend who saw a mermaid, to Job’s disbelieving scorn. When an awed Mary asks what else Will has seen, he tells her about flying fish. Job, who has heard of flying fish, credits this story, and Will offers a dried flying fish specimen to him. Ecstatic, Job tries to think how to thank Will and asks Margaret to sing for him. Will is enchanted by her singing.

Will—trying to be friendly to Job—asks whether Job would like a tailless Manx cat for Margaret, as Will is going to visit his mother’s friends on the Isle of Man before he ships out. When Mary goes to sit with Alice, she notes sadly Alice’s dimming eyes. Alice tells her not to be sad: as she loses her hearing and sight, she feels as though God is “lulling [her] away to [her] long sleep.” Mary goes home and thinks sadly of her predicaments, including her father’s illness and her regrettable flirtation with the pestering Harry.