Chapter+Summaries+and+Discussion+Questions

  =Chapter Summaries and Discussion Questions    Chapter Summaries      Chapter 1~ Claire I.       The story opens with the burial of Miss Mary Finch. She owned two young slave sisters, Ruth and Isabel. Isabel is the protagonist of the story. Their mother had died of small pox the year before. Isabel tries to talk to her mother's grave. Chapter 2~ Claire I.      Before Miss Finch died, she taught Isabel how to read and write. She also left a will saying that Ruth and Isabel could go free. Miss Finch's nephew, Mr. Robert, claimed that he now owned the sisters because of his aunt's death and the will is nowhere to be found. He has decided to sell the girls. Chapter 3~ Claire I.      Mr. Robert decided to sell the girls at a Tavern. A woman named Jenny is a waitress there and knew the girls before they were sold to Miss Finch. She feeds them and tries to buy them from Mr. Robert but the Locktons buy them instead for "amusement and housekeeping,". Chapter 4~ Claire I.      Isabel and Ruth sail to New York below the deck of a ship as property of the Locktons. Isabel is seasick and dreams about her family. Chapter 5~ Claire I.      Arriving in New York, Isabel witnesses the Locktons (who are secretly Loyalists) run into trouble with their baggage. Mrs. Lockton tricks the authorities into not looking through a large wooden trunk, and slaps Isabel (who is protecting Ruth) in the process. Isabel is left in the charge of Curzon, a slave, to fetch water for her new masters. Chapter 6~ Claire I.      Curzon exchanges life stories with Isabel. He tells her he works for the Patriots and attempts to enlist her aide for the cause as a spy against the Locktons. She refuses his request. Chapter 7~ Claire I.      Isabel brings the water to the Lockton mansion. She meets Becky, the housekeeper, and helps get the house ready for Lady Clarissa Seymour's arrival. Chapter 8~ Claire I.      Isabel worked hard at the mansion. Ruth was taken by Mrs. Lockton to be a "curiosity", a doll - like a personal maid. This infuriated Isabel. Chapter 9~ Claire I.      Isabel witnessed how Madam Lockton treated Ruth and was upset. Then she witnessed Master Lockton with bribery money hidden in the infamous trunk, and overheard his plans to turn Patriots into Loyalists with payments of bribes. Chapter 10~ Claire I.          Later that night, after Ruth had fallen asleep, Isabel slipped out of the house to find Curzon. She told Curzon about the money in Madam's linen chest. He promised to take the news to Bellingham. Chapter 11~ Claire I.          The next day, Bellingham arrives with men and searches the Lockton home in the guise of taking the counterweights out of the windows for lead to make ammunition. They found the chest but not the money. They arrested Master Lockton and Madam Lockton fainted. Chapter 12~ Claire I.          Isabel is sent to get Lady Seymour. She filled Lady Seymour in on what had happened at the Locktons. She tells Isabel to deliver a note to her lawyer and Madam Lockton. Chapter 13~ Claire I.          The next morning, Master Lockton is released and comes home, The Locktons have a fight. Isabel met Curzon while getting water. They talked about the Royal Fleet approaching and the progress in spying on Lockton. Chapter 14~ Claire I.          Isabel serves the master at a meeting with the Mayor of New York. They discuss a plot to kill George Washington and other Loyalist plans. Isabel overhears the men talking about a list of Loyalist names and the linen chest money. Chapter 15~ Claire I. Back in the kitchen, Ruth has a seizure. Madam thinks it's the Devil's doing and wants Ruth sold. Master Lockton thinks it's a medical condition and lets Ruth stay. Chapter 16~ Meredith J                        Isabel looks for the names of the Loyalist men and the money they had. She sneaks out to tell Colonel Regan what she found. This is the only way she might be able to become free with Ruth. Chapter 17~ Meredith J                        Loyalists found out that their plot to kill President Washington was uncovered by the Rebels. Master Lockton locks himself in a cheese crate and ships himself away. Loyalists are getting arrested and a lot of them are fleeing. Chapter 18~ Meredith J                        The town goes to a hanging for Hickey. Hickey was the man who was supposedly going to kill Washington. Everyone thought of the hanging as entertainment, almost everyone was there. Chapter 19~ Meredith J                        During church a man came in and told them the city was under attack by the British. They all headed to the Battery until everything was settled down. When they were leaving, Ruth had a fit and would not go, eventually Isabel carried her home. Chapter 20~ Meredith J                          America had declared their independence on Britain and they took down and chopped up the statue of King George. Madam was acting happy towards Isabel and gave her good food and the night off. At the end of the chapter Isabel said she would never forgive herself for going to sleep. Chapter 21~ Meredith J                    Isabel is dreaming of maps and eels shocking her but then she wakes up to find that Ruth is gone. She tries to find her around the house but finds Becky instead. She then finds out that Ruth had been sold to a physician in the Indies. Isabel talks to Madam rudely and they get into a fight and Isabel tries to run away. She runs across town and goes to Colonel Regan for help. Madam finds Isabel in the Rebels tent and takes her home. Chapter 22~ Meredith J                Isabel is in the prison getting punished for what she had done. She beaten and starved while she was awaiting her trial. Isabel goes to court and it is decided that she would be branded with an 'I' for insolence. There is nothing Isabel can do to not get punished; slaves have no say to what their fate is. Chapter 23~ Meredith J                Isabel is taken to the stocks to be branded. A crowd formed to see the branding and to laugh at her. She tried to distract herself and she thought she saw Curzon in the crowd, but he disappeared. She was then branded and the brand continued to burn her face. Chapter 24~ Meredith J                Even after the branding it still felt like her face was on fire. Isabel woke up in Lady Seymour's house in a nice room. She finds out that she had been asleep and sick for six days. She had almost died in the stocks, but Curzon had saved her and taken her to Lady Seymour. Unfortunately she would have to go back to the Locktons. Chapter 25~ Meredith J                Isabel returned to the Locktons' house and Madam refused to look at her. Curzon came to talk to her everyday through the fences, but she would not talk back to him. One day Curzon comes to the front door to talk to her and he wants her to be a message carrier for them. Chapter 26~ Meredith J                There was an awful storm and their house was leaking. Everyone was getting ready for war and lots of people were fleeing. When she went to the water pump she listened to the others' conversation and heard that is the British won, they would get their freedom. The grandfather says that if you find your river Jordan you will be free. Chapter 27~ Meredith J                Isabel kept thinking about her freedom and how she would get it. Becky was talking about the war and the casualties. Somehow the Americans were winning some battles. Isabel was relieved to see that Curzon was still alive because he had joined the Rebels war effort. Chapter 28~ Meredith J                The British had finally made a big attack on the city. Everyone went to the Battery for protection. Isabel went to the market to get things for the celebration at the Locktons. She hid in a abandoned shop and waited to go talk to the British. Chapter 29~ Meredith J                Isabel went to the water front to talk to a Loyalist because she believes that she will be able to gain her freedom if she joins the Loyalists. She was in great danger; what if Madam got suspicious because she had been gone so long? The Loyalist soldiers searched the Battery and found nothing; they believed the Rebels had run away. She talked to Captain Cambell and told him that she wants to be a slave for the Loyalists but he refused because Isabel is Loyalist property. When she was by the water front Master Lockton came home and took Isabel home as well. Chapter 30~ Meredith J                The British had taken over the city and therefore celebrated. Isabel was the only servant at the Locktons' house while they had their celebration, which meant she had a lot of work to do. Lady Seymour needed Isabel's help and Madam did not want her to go because then Madam would have to do a little work herself. At the end of the chapter, a huge fire had started across the city; everything was on fire. Chapter 31~ Emma K                Isabel wakes up and finds that a fire is raging through the city. She escapes, rescuing Lady Seymour as well. Isabel manages to rescue most of Lady Seymour's prized possessions, but she is forced to leave Ruth's doll behind. They escape the fire and make it to the Locktons' house, but Lady Seymour has a stroke. Other people were not as lucky; many lost their homes, possessions, loved ones, or even their lives in the fire. Chapter 32~ Emma K          The fire, which apparently started in a "groggery," caused unbelievable damage; nearly 500 homes were destroyed, not to mention shops, churches, and stables. Thousands of people were without homes. Isabel is not burned and she has no broken bones, but it takes several days for the swelling in her eyes to go down and for her to stop coughing up soot. Lady Seymour tries to thank Isabel but is unable to speak because of her stroke. More British soldiers come to stay in the Lockton household. The Locktons hire a new "boss lady" named Sarah to replace Becky, who has disappeared. Isabel misses her terribly. Chapter 33~ Emma K         Winter is coming and the weather is getting colder. Lady Seymour begins to recover, both physically and mentally. She buys Isabel a heavy skirt and woolen shawl. When Isabel protests that she cannot pay for the clothes, Lady Seymour tells her that saving her possessions, specifically a picture of her husband, from the fire was payment enough. Meanwhile, the British have a huge victory and capture hundreds of rebels. Isabel sees the rebel prisoners, including Curzon, marching slowly into the jail. Chapter 34~ Emma K         The Locktons throw a huge party at their house to celebrate the capture of Fort Washington. After the party, Isabel is supposed to throw away the scraps from dinner; instead, she leaves them outside, hidden behind a holly bush and covered with her apron. She has a plan to sneak the leftover food to Curzon at the jail. Chapter 35~ Emma K         Three days later, Isabel gets her chance to visit the jail. Lady Seymour and Madam and going to visit a friend of Madam's and will be gone for the day. Isabel is left alone in the house. Once she is at the jail, she tells the guard that her mistress sent her to feed the prisoners and that Curzon is her older brother. He lets her in. Curzon is alive, but very ill. He tells Isabel about battle; how he a soldier's head ripped off by a cannonball; how he was shot in the leg; and how, after all of that, the Rebels were forvced to surrender the fort. Chapter 36~ Emma K  Isabel begins to visit the jail on a regular basis. Lady Seymour gets a fever while visiting with Madam and is confined to bed. While she is ill, it is Isabel's job to care for her. One day, Isabel finds out thar Lady Seymour is aware that she has been bringing food to the sRebel soldiers. But instead of being angry, Lady Seymour insteads tells Isabel that it is honorable to hep a friend in need, but that she should be careful that MAdam doen't find out. Then Lady Seymour gives Isabel a list of things she wants, such as ink, newsapers, and books. At the book shop, a young man who works there recognizes er as Curzon's friend and the girl who brings food to the soldiers in jail. She is easily recognized because of her branding. The man gives her a book and tells her not to let her mistress see it. Chapter 37~ Emma K                             Christmas is coming. Lady Seymour begins to recover from her fever. When to of the "soldierwives" who work for the Locktons get into an argument about who's turn it is to get water, Isabel volunteers to let it become her chore. The tea water pump is close to the prison; getting water would allow Isabel to check on him each day. Sarah allows her to take over the job of getting water. When Isabel visits the jail, she finds that the conditions are getting much worse Many of the soldiers have died and Curzon is near death. He has no blanket tp keep warm, his hat is gone, and he has been sleepin on the cold ground. Isabel makes a deal with Didbin, one of the soldiers, in order to save Curzon: She will go and tell the soldiers' captain, Captain Morse, that his men are dying of fever and pox. That way, he will hopefully arrange for a doctor to visit the men. When she agrees to take the message, Curzon his given his hat, a blanket, and a beter place to sleep. Isabel brins the message to Captain Morse. When she gets home, she unwraps the book she was given at the store. It is Thommas Paine's //Common Sense.// She begins to read it. Chapter 38~ Emma K                      On Christmas, Isabel recieves a new pair of black leather shoes from Lady Seymour and nothing from Madam. Madam //does// saay she will give isabel the day off, but only afte she has done several chores. Then something terrible happens; Madam has somehow found out about Isable's visits to the jail and forbids her to ever visit the prisobners again! Later that day, Isabel makes a bread pudding like her mother used to make for Christmas and delivers it to a poor family in the burned district of town where houses were destroyed by the fire. After her good deed, she finally is happpy. Chapter 39~ Emma K                      When Isabel is at the market with Sarah, Captain Morse finds her and tries to give her a message for his men. Not wanting to be seeen talking to a rebel offcer, Isabel says she will talk to him later at the tavern. Later that day he gives her the news and a loaf of bread with a message baked into it for the soildiers; the rebels had won a battle! Chapter 40~ Emma K                    Master Lockton leaves for London. While he is gone, Sarah has her baby; she names him George. Lady Seymour is very ill; she tells Isabel that she tried to but her from Madam but could not. Isabel is grateful that Lady Seymour wanted to rescue her from Madam but angry that she would not just set her free. That night, Isabel continues reading //Common Sense.//                                                            Chapter 41~ Emma K                     Lady Seymour gets even more ill. The doctor thinks she will die. Madam is busy because there is going to be a ball in honor of the Queen's birthday. Isabel misses Ruth terribly. Chapter 42~ Emma K                    Isabel finishes reading //Common Sense.// She wants to escape and find freedom for herself but canno come up with a good plan. Captain Morse asks Isabel to deliver a penny to his friend Captain Farrar because he lost a bet. While Isabel takes him the message. Captain Farrar gives her //another// task, this one far more important; he gives her a note from headquarters to give to Captain Morse. Isabel returns home, planning to deliver the note later. Just as Isabel is warming up her hands, Madam storms in, hits her in the face with a riding crop, and shouts, //how dare you!//                                                            Chapter 43~ Emma K                     Madam tells Isabel that her friend Jane saw Isabel with Captain Farrar, who is, of course, a //Rebel// officer. Madam is so furious she ocks Isabel in the potato bin. Later that night, whiile Madam is at the party, Isabel escapes and goes upstairs to find a note to write ehr name on to free herself. When she is upstairs, she sees her reflection in a mirror. She looks at the mark from her branding and accepts it; in fact, she decides she will use it to make her stronger and more proud. She renames herself Isabel Gardener and prepares to leave. Chapter 44~ Emma K                    Isabel prepares to escape by dressing in all the clothes she has, stealing a supply of food to last her for the beginning of her journey, and gathering her most prized possessions. But before she leaves she makes sure Lady Seymour is warm and comfortable. Isabel is about to steal a pouch of money from Lady Seymour when Lady Seymour wakes up and sees her. She allows Isabel to keep the money, though, as payment for saving her husband's picture from the fire. Finally, Isabel sneaks Curzon out of the jail by pretending he has died. Chapter 45~ Emma K                    Isabel sets herself free and rows across the harbor from New York Island and New Jersey with Curzon. When she wakes up the next morning, she says that they have "crossed the river Jordan." The book ends on a hopeful note; the reader assumes that Isabel and Curzon will go and find Ruth in Charleston. Still, the ending is a bit of a cliff-hanger and the reader is left eagerly anticipating the next book in the series. Claire's Discussion Questions                Emma's Discussion Questions                 Meredith's Discussion Questions                                                                    =