Robert is working in Oxford and sending money home whilst Ruby Pratt has returned from Pontefract after splitting with her gentleman friend. Gabriel Cochrane, whose wife has died and whose foundry has been repossessed by the bank, comes to Candleford, penniless, and Dorcas employs him in her forge where the work interests Sydney. After Edmund has collected money from Robert at the post office, he arrives home saying he has been robbed. The whole village rallies round Emma.

Britt, deluxe call-girl, is punished by the brothel owner because she was not accomodating enough to a customer. From now on, she must obey to all customers sadistic wishes, or else.

故事发生在第二次世界大战之后，残酷的战争摧毁了不计其数的城市和村庄，无数原本幸福的家庭面临如今家破人亡的惨状，然而，即便如此，人们依然没有放弃修复和重建的希望，在满目疮痍之中，新的秩序正在逐渐建立。