Summary

In Chapter 23, Elizabeth arrives home to find the farm's crops dying for lack of water. Elizabeth is immediately summoned to the Cranch home where she finds Dr. Flynt has died. She is surprised by his appearance and believes he does not have the distemper, as Martha had indicated in her letter. She and the Cranches do what they can to calm the fear that he died of something contagious. At home, Elizabeth urges Martha not to feel responsible. Martha says Dr. Flynt knew nothing about medicine and believes he was not a doctor at all. Elizabeth cannot imagine why he would pretend. That night, Martha sleeps in Elizabeth's bed, and they are both glad of the companionship.

In Chapter 24, Abigail relates the events of the evening just before Mr. Flynt's death. There was a “heated” conversation about the political situation, but neither Abigail nor...