Fever 1793

Grandfather affirms that Mother is alive, and Matilda helps him carry her inside and into bed. Mother finally opens her eyes, but shivers and goes back to sleep, leaving Matilda to conclude that “something [is] desperately wrong” (64). All physicians are busy treating the fever, so Grandfather asks Mr. Rowley to check on Mother. Though not a “‘proper physician’” (64), Mr. Rowley is able to prescribe medicine. After examining her, Mr. Rowley pronounces that “‘there is no fever in this house’” (66).

Following Mr. Rowley’s advice, Matilda bathes Mother every four hours with Eliza’s help, even though bathing her own mother feels “upside down and backside front” (66). Mother shivers so much “her teeth rattle” (67), her eyes “poisoned with streaks of yellow and red” (67). Eliza leaves and Grandfather spends the night at Mr. Carris’ house. Mother awakens and vomits blood. Matilda, “sobbing” (69), tries to clean her up, but Mother orders her to “‘Go away!’” (69)—she doesn’t want Matilda to get sick.

Eliza brings in Dr. Kerr, an educated physician from Scotland. Dr. Kerr quickly decides Mother has yellow fever, and he has to bleed her—according to another doctor, Dr.