Peggy O'Shea, the Irish lark, arrives at Crockers Gully to prepare for her tour of the gold fields. Other new arrivals are a Chinese family who are befriended by Sarah Lucas. Sarah suggests that their 18-year-old daughter Yin Soong becomes Fitzalan's housekeeper. The Gully doctor calls unexpectedly on Fitzalan, and notices a tender relationship blossoming between the two. Yin Soong falls in love with her employer, and Fitzalan fears that soon the whole camp will know of his affair, and that the miners will not take kindly to her.