Chapter Twenty Summary

The journey to New Amsterdam is long and tedious. Will and Bess see the remains of the town where Anne Hutchinson had lived. Reaching George Baxter's home, they show him the paper signed by Robert Feake, and explain their request for a divorce. Governor Kieft's administration is in shambles, and Kieft is about to be replaced. Baxter manages to arrange a meeting and the couple learns that the only way to obtain the divorce is to have it granted to Robert in absentia, with the reason being cited as adultery on Bess's part. Bess reluctantly agrees, and Kieft plans to use her case in his favor when he is called before the authorities in Holland. The divorce is granted, but Bess is not free to remarry for a period of time. She sails back to her home and withdraws emotionally from...