Summary

In Chapter 8.2, during the autumn after Nancy’s departure, Back Creek experiences an outbreak of diphtheria. This outbreak is not unprecedented, and the local doctor tends to patients. However, the doctor is incompetent, and many of his diphtheria patients die. Rachel’s two daughters soon become ill with diphtheria. Rachel sends a message to Henry and Sapphira. Sapphira has one of the slaves go to the next town to fetch a more competent doctor. Sapphira then sends Till to Rachel’s home to help Rachel take care of the two sick daughters. In Chapter 8.3, the slave returns, but he is alone, as the doctor had called away to an emergency in a different town. Mr. Fairhead and Rachel sit with the two girls through the night, hoping that the doctor will soon be available. The doctor arrives around noon the next day and treats...