Chapters 3-4 Summary

That night, Roxana becomes obsessed with the idea of her son being sold down river. Roxana decides to kill the baby rather than see that happen to him. Roxana dresses up for the murder-suicide, then dresses the baby in some of Tom's clothes. When Roxana sees Chambers in Tom's clothes, she realizes how alike the babies really are. Roxana is only an eighth black, therefore her baby is fair skinned, causing him to appear white like Tom Driscoll. Roxana decides to switch the babies in order to give her son a chance at a good life. Roxana worries that someone will notice the switch, but the babies look so much alike that no one ever guesses, not even Wilson when he takes their fingerprints again.

The babies grow up together, but in different roles. Tom, who is really Chambers, grows up...