In which the melancholy returning Fitzpiers finds his home strangely deserted and learns of Grace’s indisposition, while a curious letter from Marty South arrives unopened in his pocket; following a restless ride to Hintock Manor, a mistaken horse-switch leads to his fall and Melbury's prompt assistance, underscoring the quiet tensions and unspoken care threading through this woodland community. The hour grows late and the shadows deepen, as watchers move silently through the park and the evening's subtle perturbations suggest that even restful walls conceal uneasy hearts.