Demelza refuses to speak to Ross and expects him to return to Elizabeth, abandoning her and Jeremy.
Elizabeth and Agatha believe the same and Elizabeth writes to George to postpone the wedding. George rides to Trenwith to make Elizabeth agree to another date, ensuring his plans are not usurped. In Truro, Tonkin invites Ross to join him in a prospering shipbuilding partnership.
Meanwhile, Demelza accepts Sir Hugh Bodrugan's invitation to his ball, where she finds Captain McNeil, inviting him to her room, having justified the possibility of adultery as something Ross has driven her to. Ross finds Demelza on Hendrawna Beach but hasn't the words to build a bridge between them.
Ross is beckoned to the mine where they have cleared the collapse and come upon the richest lode of tin Henshawe has ever seen - may Ross soon may be free of debt?