In which the gentle-minded Dinah, a young Methodist preacher from a bleak industrial village, converses thoughtfully with the kindly Mr. Irwine about her calling and the nature of faith amidst village life, revealing her quiet strength and heartfelt compassion. Tidings of the sorrowful drowning of Matthias Bede reach them, prompting Dinah’s resolve to offer comfort to the bereaved family, while the farming household around her carries on with a mix of practical care and honest, homely talk.