- Kit is initially disappointed with the small settlement that is Wethersfield; however, once she reaches her aunt and uncle’s cabin, she’s relieved to find that the building is solid and respectable.
- Aunt Rachel, whom Kit first assumes is a servant (ouch!), answers the door. The older woman is shocked. Kit looks so much like Rachel’s sister (Kit’s mother) that Aunt Rachel calls Kit by the name of “Margaret.”
- Kit introduces herself as Margaret’s daughter. Aunt Rachel is thrilled and invites Kit inside. The seamen drop the bags and head back down the road. (Not before a little more sparring with Nat, though.)
- Rachel calls the family to meet their new guest. Kit is introduced to her stern Uncle Matthew and the family’s two daughters: Judith and Mercy. Judith is as beautiful as Aunt Rachel was reported to be in her youth; Mercy has extraordinary gray eyes, though Kit notices that she is also lame and must use crutches.
- The family offers Kit breakfast, which she accepts; Judith notices –and is astonished by – Kit’s fine clothes. Kit offers Judith a pair of her gloves, at which suggestion Judith narrows her eyes.
- Everyone sits down to breakfast and Kit catches up with Aunt Rachel. She tells her aunt about Grandfather’s passing. Aunt Rachel again mentions Kit’s resemblance to her mother. Also, the aristocratic Kit is a little shocked that they are drinking water with breakfast.
- The silent Uncle Matthew leaves to work in the south meadow, but as he exits, he stumbles upon Kit’s seven trunks from Barbados outside the door. Kit must confess to Uncle Matthew: She’s not here just for a visit; she is here to live with the family.
- Uncle Matthew asks why she didn’t write. Kit said she thought they might not let her come.
- Uncle Matthew finally gets the whole story out of Kit: there was a ship in Barbados leaving for Connecticut and Kit didn’t have time to write to the Wood family. So she rashly decided to just take the journey instead of waiting for another ship
- More details emerge: Kit’s grandfather had been in debt, so she had to sell off the estate (including her personal African slave). Once all of the debts were cleared, there was no home left, really.
- Aunt Rachel says Kit was right to come to them and Uncle Matthew grudgingly agrees. He asks if Kit’s grandfather was loyal to the King of England, and she says yes. Uncle Matthew is silent. (Not a good sign.)
- Kit’s seven trunks are brought in, about which much fuss is made. “Seven trunks! The whole town will be talking about it before nightfall” (3.77).