In which Dorothea, newly widowed and situated at Freshitt Hall, wrestles with the sombre realities of her late husband’s will and the heavy responsibilities it entrusts to her, whilst seeking counsel and solace among family and acquaintances. She contemplates the character and merits of potential clergymen for the Lowick living, amid reflections on her changed circumstances and the delicate entanglements of loyalty, judgement, and affection.