Mary Barton: Chapter 24 Summary & Analysis

To distract herself from her fears, Mary decides to go help Mrs. Wilson. She finds Mrs. Wilson at home, sitting dumbfounded with a piece of paper in her hands, asking what the paper is. Mrs. Davenport, also present, tells Mary that the paper is a subpoena and that Mrs. Wilson is devastated that she must testify to the ownership of the gun. Mary gently takes the subpoena from Mrs. Wilson and tells Mrs. Davenport that they should try to get her (Mrs. Wilson) to rest. They guide Mrs. Wilson to a pallet in Alice’s room, where she falls asleep. Mary spends the night watching over her and Alice, taking some imperceptible comfort from Alice occasionally singing religious songs from her childhood.

In the morning—it’s now Sunday—Mrs. Wilson wakes and asks Mary whether all her troubles have been a dream. Mary quietly says no. She makes Mrs. Wilson breakfast and explains about Jem’s lawyer, Mr. Bridgnorth, and about her plan to find Will to provide Jem’s alibi. Mrs. Wilson bemoans that she, Jem’s mother, isn’t doing more to help him. Mary wonders whether there might be a way to spare Mrs. Wilson from having to testify and resolves to ask Mr. Bridgnorth about it.

When Mrs. Davenport returns from church, Mary goes to fetch Alice’s doctor to check on Mrs. Wilson as well as Alice. The doctor comes, intimates sadly that Alice will soon die, and then examines Mrs. Wilson. Afterward, the doctor—unsure what Mary wants to hear—says that it’s natural for Mrs. Wilson to be weak after the shock of her son Jem having murdered Harry Carson. Angrily, Mary tells the doctor that people who know Jem are sure he’s innocent.

Mary asks whether Mrs. Wilson is healthy enough to travel to Liverpool. When the doctor says yes, Mary bursts into tears and admits she’d hoped Mrs. Wilson was too weak to travel. The doctor, rather confused, says of course travel might be a risk. Mary eagerly asks him for a certificate saying as much that she could give to a lawyer. The doctor agrees that she can come get a certificate from him any time. Then he leaves. Afterward, Mary visits Job to explain what she’s done. Job worries that it may harm Jem somehow if Mrs. Wilson doesn’t testify and says he’ll ask Mr. Bridgnorth.