Fever 1793: Chapter 18 Summary & Analysis

The next morning, Mattie is awakened by the cat. She is cheered by the knowledge that she and Grandfather have now survived one day and one night on her watch. She realizes how bad she feels, looks, and smells, so she decides to take a bath. She heats water over the fire, fills the tub, and locks herself into the kitchen. Mattie normally bathes once a month or before a special occasion. She luxuriates in this special occasion.

Mattie scrubs herself until the bathwater is brown. When she’s finally clean, she dries herself in front of the fire and considers her clothing options. The rest of her clothes are lost somewhere in the Pennsylvania countryside. She finds clothes in Mother’s trunk that fit surprisingly well. She twirls around the room, enjoying the sensation of wearing something other than dirty homespun.

Mattie wakes Grandfather and then busies herself making a soup out of the sad-looking beans and turnip she’s found in the garden. It turns out little better than “warm water with weeds in it.” But Grandfather refuses to venture beyond the house for better food; it’s dangerous, and besides, Lucille might come back. That afternoon Mattie salvages half a dozen potatoes from the struggling garden, and she dances with joy. They are finally able to eat enough supper to ease the pain in their stomachs.

That night, Mattie is exhausted from all the work, but Grandfather is snoring too loudly for her to sleep. She makes herself a pallet downstairs and opens the shutters to cool down the room. She feels satisfied with her efforts to manage on her own. She reads a Bible passage, imagining the day when she will own a whole library of her own, and then blows out her candle.