Wednesday, May 29, 1776
- When the ship docks in New York, Madam Lockton throws a hissy fit over a giant walnut chest that the soldiers guarding the dock want to inspect. She says it has her underwear in it—back then, ladies' underwear was kind of a big deal. We've got this feeling that if Madam Lockton were alive today, she wouldn't do too well with random searches at airport security.
- While all this is going on, a friend, Charles, approaches Mr. Lockton and asks him why in the name of King George he's chosen to come back to New York. Apparently, Bellingham, a local official in charge of arresting traitors to the cause of independence, is looking for reasons to lock him up for his continued loyalty to the King.
- As if on cue, Bellingham makes an appearance, accompanied by a young slave wearing a red hat. Bellingham engages the Locktons in a conversation that would sound totally ordinary, if not for the fact that they're on different sides of the Revolution. Elihu dispels rumors that he and his family have gone to London, claiming that he's on the side of Patriots, but Bellingham doesn't buy it.
- The battle over Madam Lockton's walnut chest isn't over yet, though we're starting to think there might be more to this than her alleged dignity. What we do know is that there's something kind of comical about all this, and it's not lost on Ruth, who starts to giggle.
- When Madam asks which one of the girls was laughing at her, Isabel quickly takes the blame, and Madam smacks her cheek harder than Isabel has ever been hit before in her life.
- The Great Underwear Chest Debacle is resolved and it's decided that the Locktons can return home with it. They decide to send Isabel on ahead to get clean water. Bellingham's slave in the red hat—whose name is Curzon—agrees to accompany Isabel and give her the grand tour.