Readers can learn about the governor and the charter in Chapter 15. We actually learn about the event after it occurred. William comes to tell Uncle Matthew that the charter is safe. The charter had been out in full view of the governor at a meeting earlier that evening. The room became hot and stuffy, so windows were opened. A draft came in and blew out all of the candles, and the room went dark. After the candles were lit again, the men at the meeting realized that the charter was missing.
Before long the room got hot and full of smoke and when someone opened a window, the draft blew out the candles. It took quite a few minutes to gee them lighted. Nobody moved. Far as I could see everybody stayed right in their places. But when the candles were lit the charter had disappeared. They looked high...
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and low for it, all over the room, and never found a trace.
Matthew presses for more information, and he asks if William knows what happened to the charter. William says that he doesn't know, because the room was dark; however, he is adamant that he knows it is safe.
"No sir," he answered. "The room was dark."
"Then how do you know it is safe?"
"It is safe, sir," said William positively.
The event further opens Kit's eyes to the stance of the colonists and their willingness to bravely fight against the British crown. Kit has now seen both William and Matthew take actual action. They aren't just complaining about things. They are willing to do something about it that involves some serious risk. Readers are told at the very end of the chapter that she is proud of her uncle.
During the meeting it got dark. Andros called for lights, but the candles were blown out by a draft. While they were out, someone "stole" the charter (took it to keep it safe). Readers aren't told exactly who did this, but William acts like he either took it or was directly involved. William is shown to be far more lively than Kit had seen before, and as for Matthew, Kit actively admires him for the first time. She sees that there "was a sort of magnificence about him," and sees why her beautiful aunt would cross an ocean with him.