Alf Arliss gets his first proper wage and can afford to rent his own cottage so he throws a house-warming party. But the Timmins' enjoyment is short-lived when Edmund announces he is leaving school to work in the fields, despite an excellent exam result. He argues with his parents and moves in with the Turrills, whilst the Arliss children accuse the Timmins family of snobbery because Emma wants better than labouring work for her boy. Dorcas, noting Minnie's maternal instincts, suggests she would make a good mother so, when Minnie finds a baby on her doorstep, she decides to 'practise' by caring for her in secret. The baby turns out to be the newly-born sister of Alf, whose mother is back in prison. Dorcas locks horns with Robert when she suggests he should hear out Edmund's viewpoint
—don @ minifie-1