Chapter 17, Spelling Bee Summary

On a snowy day, Alvin needs to go around town delivering iron products to Makepeace's customers. He goes to the Guesters' inn to borrow their sleigh, and Old Peg Guester says that he must take Arthur with him, since the boy is underfoot. Alvin and Arthur play in the snow and head down the road in the sleigh. On the way there, they pick up Mock Berry, the free black man who lives near the Guesters, whom they claim is the biological father of Arthur. When Mock realizes that Arthur is with them, he does not want to be seen with the boy, since the child is obvious evidence that Mock's wife has been unfaithful. Not only does this humiliate Mock, but he also knows that it will look suspicious if he is willing to ride with little Arthur...