Martha Ballard arrives at the Pierce farm after William Pierce claims Sally is dying, but Martha quickly sees that Sally is simply in labor. William leaves in anger, and Bonnie Pierce explains that Sally has been secretly pregnant for months. Bonnie says she discovered the pregnancy in January, hid it from William as long as possible, and believes Sally went willingly to the father. As Martha thinks back to the winter hearings and the Frolic, Martha realizes Sally had already been pregnant then and that no one, including Martha, recognized it.

Sally is frightened of Martha, and at first Sally assumes Martha is about to demand the father’s name. Instead, Martha asks when Sally last bled so Martha can judge whether the baby is early or late. Sally says mid-July, which reassures Martha that the child is full term and likely viable. During this exchange, Bonnie’s practical calm surprises Martha even more when Bonnie admits that all of her daughters became pregnant before marriage and that Sally’s case is only different because the father’s identity is hidden.

Sally’s labor is long and hard, lasting nearly two hours at the most difficult stage, but Martha safely delivers a large, healthy boy. As soon as Martha sees the baby, Martha understands what is coming and strongly suspects the father is her own son Jonathan. Sally holds the child and nurses him while Martha stitches her injuries. Martha questions Bonnie, who says William thinks Bonnie knows the father, though Bonnie claims she does not. Martha replies that the father is no mystery, making clear that Martha has already reached the truth.

After finishing the stitches, Martha asks Sally what the baby will be called. Sally names him Jonathan, after his father, confirming Martha’s fear that Jonathan Ballard has fathered Sally’s child. Later, Martha records the birth in her diary and explicitly writes that Sally declared Jonathan was the father. Martha breaks her quill from the force of writing, goes to bed shaken, and lies awake because Jonathan has not come home, wondering whether he is out carelessly enjoying himself or has gone to see his newborn son.