Chapters Twenty-Two through Twenty-Four Summary

Frances thanks Josiah for the flowers and then tells him that the little boy they call James is ill. She says that they must call for a doctor and convinces Josiah of the need to spend the money by saying that having the child die will be an expensive loss. Josiah urges her to wait but Frances sends Mehuru for the doctor that evening. Dr. Stuart Hadley compliments Mehuru on his speech and tells him about a coffee house where freed slaves sometimes meet with those opposed to slavery as a trade. Dr. Hadley chastises Frances for the keeping of slaves in general and specifically for having James who is barely more than a toddler. Dr. Hadley asks to see the other little boy in the house who is also coughing, but Frances says the child is...