Brigge remembers the times when he was sick as a young boy. Amid bouts of fever, he would feel briefly energized enough to play with his toy soldiers before quickly becoming exhausted again. His mother read him fairy tales, even though they disapprove of fantastical stories. They read together "to look busy" (86) for Brigge's father and, when they are alone, they give themselves up to the sharing of memories. Brigge remembers how his mother had hoped, for a time, that she would have a daughter. Brigge would pretend to be that daughter, entering her room "in the short, girlish house-frock" (87) and referring to himself as Sophie in a high-pitched voice. When swapping the memories, Brigge's mother wonders whether Sophie died. He insists that Sophie was not dead but had little evidence to prove otherwise.

Brigge is, to some extent, surprised that he was able to move past his debilitating fevers and return to his "highly communal life" (87) with his family. The family routine involved long walks, conversations in French, and awkward children's birthday parties. On days when his governess was sick, Brigge searched through his father's ceremonial outfits and antiques.