On April 19, with Ephraim still away in Boston and her children gone for the evening, Martha goes down to the mill for ink and a new quill. Surrounded by Ephraim’s carefully kept tools, she thinks about telling him that Jonathan fathered Sally Pierce’s newborn son and reflects on how much she misses her husband. Before leaving, Martha writes in her journal, reaffirming that her daily record matters because it may be the only proof she ever existed.

Martha then takes a tonic to North Manor because guilt has been weighing on her. When Lidia North answers the door, Martha admits she was wrong to withhold treatment and apologizes for her cruelty. Inside the dark, quiet house, Lidia describes her constant headaches, and Martha sees more clearly how badly she is suffering.

Martha finds the bottle in her medical bag, warns Lidia to take only two teaspoons a day, and gives her the first dose. Lidia’s reaction startles Martha, but she soon settles, and Martha helps her upstairs to bed. Seeing Lidia’s frailty and pain, Martha regrets having let her anger at Joseph North affect her care for Joseph North’s wife.

After tucking Lidia in, Martha starts to leave but notices that Joseph North’s study door is open. She steps inside and, despite reminding herself that she is a healer rather than a schemer, begins looking over the papers on his desk. There she finds a draft letter showing that Joseph North has been planning to take over the Ballards’ lease and acquire more land in Hallowell for himself and Boston interests.

Martha realizes the letter is proof that Joseph North meant to seize their land all along. When she hears Joseph North return, she quickly hides the letter in her medical bag and pretends she has come into the study only to pour brandy for Lidia. Joseph North confronts her angrily, but Martha keeps her composure, carries the brandy upstairs, wakes Lidia to help her drink it, repeats the tonic instructions, and then leaves the house in silence, carrying the stolen evidence with her.