Summary

In Chapter 20, dated February 1778, Elizabeth says she has now come “to the heart of my narrative: that period of time, lasting roughly eighteen months, during which John was in France and we found ourselves entirely alone in a hostile environment” (131). The three women – Martha, Abigail, and Elizabeth – become more dependent on each other and are forced to live with very little. Susanna Brown's husband arrived one afternoon with a pie as payment for delivering another daughter. Though the pie was a luxury in this time frame, Elizabeth and Martha agree to save it to share with Abigail to help her through he sadness because John and John Quincy have departed for the ship bound for France. Elizabeth remains suspicious of Martha's patriotism. One evening, Elizabeth joins a group for dinner and meets three men who have just arrived in the community and are staying...