Fever 1793

Matilda wakes to Silas licking her cheek, and she’s surprised to discover “diamonds of frost” (210) covering the yard. She eagerly calls for Eliza, who sees the frost and joyfully exclaims, “‘We made it!’” (210). They bring the children outside on their mattress, allowing them to “cool […] gently” (211) from the fever and “‘breathe in the clean air’” (211).

A messenger arrives with ample food from Joseph—farmers have returned to town along with the frost. The messenger warns them to wait another week before venturing further into town to make sure “summer’s grip”—and the fever’s—is “well and truly broken” (211). Eliza drags all the coffeehouse furniture outside because she believes the cold will “‘destroy the pestilence’” (212). The children’s fevers have broken, and they eat, sleep, and recover.

The next morning, Joseph arrives and thanks Eliza and Matilda “‘for giving me back my boys’” (213). Joseph advises Matilda to head to the now-reopened market, home of “‘all the best gossips in town’” (213), for news of her mother. Matilda asks Eliza for “‘permission’” (213), but she doesn’t need it: Matilda realizes she can make her own decisions.

Matilda discovers “a welcome wave of noise and good cheer” (213) at the market and reconnects with Mrs. Epler. Having found no answers as to Mother’s whereabouts, Matilda contemplates selling the coffeehouse and working as a scullery maid. She soon decides the notion is “ridiculous” (215)—she is the daughter of a strong woman, granddaughter of an Army captain, and she is “not afraid of hard work” (216). Matilda is determined to “set [her] own course” (216).

She is surprised to run into Nathaniel at the market, and they discuss their respective experiences during the fever outbreak. Matilda wonders how they can go back to the way things were when “‘everything has changed’” (218). Nathaniel responds that “‘the important things’”—like their friendship—“‘haven’t changed at all’” (218). Nathaniel assures Matilda her mother will be home soon, but Matilda wonders, “What if [Mother] didn’t come home at all?” (218).

Residents are returning to Philadelphia by the hundreds. Though many who remained in the city are still weak, Philadelphia itself, “like a wilted flower stuck in a bowl of water,” is gathering “strength” to once again “blossom” (222). Nathaniel joins Matilda on a walk every evening, and they visit the mass grave where Grandfather is buried—there are likely “‘more of his friends here than in the cemetery’” (220). There is still no news about Mother.

Eliza decides to host a feast of thanksgiving. Mother Smith thanks God for keeping them all safe through the fever, and they all praise Matilda for her hard work.

During the feast, Matilda’s ponders her future and decides she will no longer listen to others “making the decisions while [she] stood to the side” (223). She declares that instead of selling the coffeehouse, she’ll reopen it the very next day. With Eliza as her business partner, they can continue to care for Nell.

The coffeehouse is full again, and Matilda is sure “Mother would have been very proud” (228). Matilda is happy, but still feels “hollow” (230)—she’s lost so much, and Mother is still missing.

Nathaniel bursts into the coffeehouse announcing that President Washington and the last of the Philadelphia residents have returned—among them is a “frail” but “beautiful” woman, Matilda’s mother (233).

Mother happily greets Matilda and Eliza and doesn’t even “make a sharp-tongued remark” (235) to Nathaniel. Mother is weak—a mug of coffee appears “too heavy for her to hold” (236)—and Mrs. Ludington says it’s a “‘miracle’” (236) she recovered, especially since she left the Ludingtons by herself to look for Matilda and ended up “‘near death’” on a roadside (236).

Matilda reveals that Grandfather died. Mother reveals how worried she was and sobs, with Matilda “cradl[ing]” her mother’s head (238). Matilda understands that their roles have reversed—Matilda is now the one who must work hard and take care of her mother.

Matilda wakes to Silas attacking a mouse, just as the cat did at the novel’s opening. Unlike the Matilda who lingered in bed back in August, this Matilda forces herself to rise in the dark and cold—“no one else is going to get the house stirring” (240). She passes Mother, Eliza, and Joseph’s twins, all still sleeping, and mentions that “Nell still refuse[s] to leave [her] side” (242).

As Matilda prepares for a busy day, she adjusts Nathaniel’s new painting hanging in the front room. Mr. Peale has praised Nathaniel’s progress, and in three or four years he’ll be able to make a living as a painter.

Matilda looks outside at a “peaceful” (243) vision of Philadelphia, making it hard to remember the “terror” (243) the city so recently suffered. Philadelphia has “moved on” (243), and early morning is the only time when Matilda still senses memories of Grandfather and Polly like “ghosts” (243).

Matilda watches the sun rise, “a giant balloon filled with prayers and hopes and promise” (243), and knows that another day of hard but fulfilling work has begun.