Chains

The Locktons have arranged a dinner party to celebrate the capture of rebel prisoners. The meal consists of extravagant dishes and many courses. Madam Lockton goes to great lengths to prepare her outfit and makeup for the party, including false eyebrows and a wig. The guests dine and discuss the developments in the war, focusing on the success of the Loyalists. The room becomes over warm, and Madam Lockton’s eyebrow falls into her food. Isabel is run ragged making many trips up and down the stairs with food service. She overhears the table conversation and worries about Curzon in the prison.

When dinner is over, instead of dumping the table scraps in the privy, Isabel hides them in the shrubbery, planning to deliver the food to Curzon. She gets her chance on Monday when the house is vacant. The weather has turned cold, and she must line her shoes with newspaper to stay warm. She takes the scrap bucket to Bridewell prison and tells the guard she is there to visit her brother. The guard steals half the food in the pail but allows her in to see Curzon.

Curzon has a bullet wound in his leg and has seen many horrible sights during battle. It is cold, wet, and miserable in the cell. One hungry soldier tries to steal all the food but is reprimanded by the sergeant, who asks Isabel if she can return and relay messages to his captain. Isabel does not want to help, but he tells her she will not be spying, just sending messages. She still tells him she can’t do it.

Back at the Lockton home, Lady Seymour becomes ill with fever, and Isabel becomes her maid while she recovers. Madam suggests sending Lady Seymour down to Charleston to recover, but the doctor says the journey could be fatal to the Lady (and Isabel suspects this was Madam’s intention, anyway), so Lady Seymour remains with the Locktons. Isabel continues to visit Curzon and deliver food. His wound is not infected, but he is morose and despondent. Lady Seymour knows Isabel is taking food to the prison, and she supports her, saying, “It is honorable to help a friend in need” (227). She sends Isabel to Rivington’s stationers to buy ink and newspaper. While waiting in the shop, Isabel looks over the books on the shelves. Phillis Wheatley’s book of poetry catches her eye (historically, Wheatley was the first African American to publish a book of poetry). The stationer fills Isabel’s list and asks her about Curzon. He tells her that many in the town support caring for the imprisoned soldiers. He secretly passes her a book, but she lies and says she cannot read. He still tells her to read it and pass it to everyone she can.

Isabel offers to wake early each day to fetch water. She uses this time to stop by the prison to check on Curzon. The guards have tightened the restrictions for visitors, and she is only allowed to talk with him through barred windows. Disease is rampant, and there are mass graves for the bodies piling up outside. Curzon is very ill, and the sergeant has died. A soldier, Dibdin, has taken command, and he wants her to report the atrocities of the prison to Captain Morse in town and summon a doctor to attend to the sick soldiers. Isabel agrees on the condition that he will treat Curzon with care in the meantime.

She finds Captain Morse and relays the message. He promises to help and tells her Curzon was very brave in the battle. Meanwhile, Master Lockton decides to leave for London, infuriating Madam. Isabel retreats to her room and begins reading the book from the stationer, Common Sense by Thomas Paine.