Chains

Becky and Isabel work to clean the large second-floor drawing room when a loud knock at the door stirs everyone in the house. Bellingham has arrived with soldiers carrying iron bars, and they want to harvest the lead from the window counterweights and drapery pulls to make ammunition. Everyone in town, including the churches, is making sacrifices for the revolutionary effort. Bellingham insists that if Master Lockton is a true patriot, he will not mind contributing as well. Madam Lockton is incensed, but she becomes enraged when they go to search her linen chest again. Isabel is certain her own liberation is at hand, but Master Lockton has hidden the money elsewhere, and the chest is empty. Bellingham arrests him nonetheless, and Madam faints. Becky sends Isabel to fetch Lady Seymour to help.

Lady Seymour’s home has a red door with a heart-shaped knocker, and there is a lovely rose garden. A young girl answers the door and speaks only in Dutch. Lady Seymour calls to Isabel from the window and brings her inside. She offers her cookies and milk as Isabel recounts Lockton’s arrest. Madam is planning to leave for South Carolina, but Lady Seymour opposes this idea.