In which a heavy cloud of misfortune settles upon the Fielding farm as George receives a summons from a nobleman offering him a new life overseas, whilst the arrest of a supposed friend casts a shadow over the household and sharpens the strains between those who dwell there. Meanwhile, unseen motives and quiet passions stir beneath calm demeanours, as an astute observer notes the shifting temperaments and concealed hopes of the players in this rural drama.