Martha Ballard arrives at Pollard’s Tavern with trembling hands, too shaken to ride straight home. She asks Moses Pollard for whiskey and a full meal, then takes a quiet seat in the corner while the crowded, cheerful tavern carries on around her.

As Martha looks around, she sees her children gathered together: Hannah, Dolly, Cyrus, and Young Ephraim, with Barnabas Lambard sitting near Cyrus. Martha notices the small tensions and attachments at the table. Dolly still resists Barnabas after their earlier conflict, but Martha can see that Dolly has not truly turned away from him, while Cyrus keeps glancing toward the door, seemingly hoping Sarah White will arrive.

Martha asks Moses about the many unfamiliar men in the tavern and learns they are Boston militia passing through from Fort Halifax. Remembering Sarah White’s seduction by Major Henry Warren, Martha asks whether Warren is among them. Moses checks for her and reports that Warren is not there, which Martha receives as a relief rather than a disappointment.

Hannah comes over to explain that the family chose to eat at the tavern because both parents were away, and Martha briefly watches Hannah’s gentle courtship with Moses. Martha also observes Young Ephraim leave the table to play dice with Matthew Pollard, and she is pleased to see her youngest son enjoying a rare carefree moment. Watching all of them together makes Martha reflect on how much her children have grown and how little they now need her.

Jonathan then enters the tavern and joins his siblings with unusual warmth, but when he notices Martha watching him, he blushes. Martha immediately understands that he has been with Sally Pierce. Before leaving, Martha kisses each of her children good night, including Jonathan, and quietly tells him that they need to talk, setting up a private reckoning to come.