In which Malcolm, refreshed from his journey, arrives at the moor-surrounded estate of Kirkbyres and encounters the lady of the house, who, with a mixture of sorrow and pleading, seeks his aid in bridging the painful estrangement between herself and her afflicted son. The conversation reveals contrasting views of kindness and suspicion, with Malcolm resolved to protect his friend’s welfare yet touched by the mother’s lament and the complexities of love and trust.