Chapter 37 Summary: Peace, Reunions, and New Beginnings

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

The chapter opens with Napoleon Bonaparte's downfall after the Battle of Leipzig. In March 1814 the Allies enter Paris, and soon Napoleon abdicates, exile to Elba. Amos Barrowfield reads the news in the Kingsbridge Gazette and thanks God the war is over. There is celebration in Kingsbridge, though families wonder when soldiers will return. Wellington becomes a duke.

Amos visits Jane and his son Hal with a globe as a gift, explaining the war's geography. Jane reads a letter from her husband Henry (the Earl of Shiring). Henry reports the 107th Foot's final victory at Toulouse, the death of Ensign Sandy Drummond, and the chaplain Kenelm Mackintosh's wound in the posterior. The regiment is ordered to Brussels as part of a joint British–Prussian occupation of the Netherlands while the Congress of Vienna decides the territory's fate. Amos realizes the men will not come home, and Jane remains indifferent.

In Brussels, Kit Clitheroe serves as Henry's aide-de-camp. He visits the ailing Mackintosh, whose wound is infected and feverish. Kit arranges for Mackintosh to stay at a clean boardinghouse run by Anna Bianco. While picking up new recruits at a canal tavern, Kit is astonished to see his stepfather Jarge Box among them. He then sees his mother and breaks down in tears, reunited after years of war. Kit leads the recruits back to camp.

Elsie Mackintosh receives Kit's letter describing Kenelm's illness. Worried, she decides to travel with her five children to Brussels to nurse him, despite her mother Arabella's concerns. Her brother Spade supports the plan; Arabella reluctantly agrees.

Jane shows Amos an article from The Lady's Magazine about Brussels becoming a fashionable society destination, full of balls, waltzes, and aristocratic visitors. Amos initially disapproves but then sees a business opportunity: demand for luxury cloth will rise as military orders decline. Jane declares she might go to Brussels herself to enjoy the social scene, taking Hal with her. Amos reflects that marrying Jane would have been a disaster; he has had a lucky escape.

Key Events

Napoleon abdicates after the Allies enter Paris; the war with France ends.
Amos reads the news and feels relief; Kingsbridge celebrates.
Wellington is made a duke.
Amos visits Jane and Hal, bringing a globe; Jane reads Henry's letter describing the regiment's move to Brussels.
Kit tends to the wounded and feverish Chaplain Mackintosh.
Kit arranges for Mackintosh to stay at a boardinghouse run by Anna Bianco.
While collecting new recruits, Kit is reunited with his mother and stepfather Jarge Box.
Elsie Mackintosh decides to travel to Brussels to nurse her husband, taking her children.
Jane reads about Brussels society and decides to go for the social life, taking Hal.

Character Development

Amos Barrowfield: Shows continued care for his son Hal and a pragmatic eye for business. His reflection on Jane reveals his mature understanding of incompatible personalities.
Kit Clitheroe: Demonstrates competence and compassion in managing the chaplain's care. The emotional reunion with his mother shows his deep longing for family and a softer side beneath his military discipline.
Elsie Mackintosh: Acts decisively out of marital duty, prioritizing her husband's health over safety concerns. This contrasts with Jane's self-focused motivations.
Jane: Remains self-interested and eager for pleasure, revealing a fundamental shallowness that confirms Amos's wise avoidance.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Peace and Its Discontents: The end of war brings celebration but also uncertainty for soldiers' families and economic shifts (military contracts end, luxury markets rise).
Family Bonds vs. Duty: Kit's reunion with his mother and Jarge highlights the pull of family across military separation. Elsie's journey similarly underscores commitment to family.
Social Transformation: Brussels shifts from a garrison town to a fashionable resort, symbolizing the transition from wartime austerity to peacetime indulgence. The waltz represents both liberation and moral decay.
Economic Adaptation: Amos immediately sees the need to pivot from army uniforms to luxury cloth for the new social scene, reflecting the connection between historical events and personal enterprise.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter marks a turning point: the war is over, yet the characters face new challenges—reunions, illness, and shifting social landscapes. It sets the stage for the post-Napoleonic era and foreshadows the Battle of Waterloo by placing key characters in Brussels. The chapter deepens personal arcs for Kit and Elsie while demonstrating Amos's shrewdness and Jane's frivolity. It also highlights how peace reshapes both the economy and private lives.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Kit arrange for Mackintosh to stay in a boardinghouse rather than the camp?
Mackintosh's wound is infected and he is feverish. Sleeping on the ground would worsen his condition. Kit believes warmth, a soft bed, and rest will help him recover. He also seeks the colonel's approval and pays for the boardinghouse upfront, later writing to Elsie for reimbursement.
How does the end of the war affect Amos's business plans?
Amos realizes that demand for army uniforms will drop sharply. The article about Brussels's fashionable society inspires him to shift production to luxury cloth for wealthy civilians. He needs to contact buyers in the Netherlands to capture this new market.
What does Jane's reaction to the article about Brussels reveal about her character?
Jane is excited by the prospect of parties, dances, and new gowns. She immediately decides to go, even though her husband Henry is stationed there. Her enthusiasm for frivolous social life and her lack of concern for family responsibilities (she will take Hal away from Amos) confirm her self-centered and pleasure-seeking nature.