XVI-XX Summary

Dr. Donaldson arrives to see Mrs. Hale. He goes into the bedroom with Dixon in attendance while Margaret waits outside. When he comes out Margaret confronts him. She insists he tells her what is wrong with her mother. The doctor is hesitant, but Margaret is equally persistent knowing a professional would not be so foolish as to promise not to tell anyone. He tells Margaret her mother is suffering from a deadly illness. Gaskell does not name the illness, but it is likely she will die shortly. Margaret goes to see her mother and asks to be her nurse. Mrs. Hale refuses because she has Dixon, and Dixon is a trained nurse. Dixon and Margaret have a short discussion. Margaret says she will not tell her father yet as he will not cope well with the news. When she is by herself, Dixon...