The Pioneers

The next morning, Richard wakes early and has his and Temple’s horses prepared for their trip. He goes into Temple’s room to fetch him, only to find Temple looking ill at ease. Temple tells Richard that he received a letter after they returned from fishing, which he shows him. The letter is from London and reports someone’s death in a shipwreck the year before during his travel to America. Temple cancels their trip and asks Richard to help him with his writing tasks, saying that he can’t use Oliver due to the secrecy and personal nature of the death. Richard agrees and sends for Dirck Van der School, the other of the town’s two lawyers, who is known to be honorable and honest. Temple then spends the rest of the day locked in his room with Richard and Van der School. Only Elizabeth is allowed to visit.

Oliver sees Elizabeth crying. He asks her what happened and volunteers to help Temple with whatever he needs. Elizabeth insists that her worries are a private family matter, offending Oliver who has now lived there for five months. Elizabeth notes that the family still knows very little about Oliver and accidentally mentions the rumor that Oliver is half-Indian.