Martha Ballard has spent twelve days without Ephraim and is increasingly afraid that he has died while away surveying. To keep from dwelling on that fear, Martha throws herself into work at home, directing her children, managing the farm, and continuing her medical duties. While feeding the animals, Martha hears hooves and hopes Ephraim has returned, but Joseph North arrives instead and asks for Ephraim and the survey results.

North quickly reveals a second purpose for his visit. In front of Cyrus, North says there is village talk that Cyrus fought Joshua Burgess on the night Burgess died, and North suggests that a court officer might find that suspicious. North then presses Martha to reveal what Rebecca Foster told her about North’s conduct, but Martha refuses and says she will give her testimony in Vassalboro, not to North. Before leaving, North warns Martha that her confidence in the coming hearing may be misplaced.

The next day passes without Ephraim’s return, even on Martha and Ephraim’s thirty-fifth wedding anniversary. On Sunday, because both Ephraim and Jonathan are absent, Martha and Cyrus butcher roosters together. During that work, North returns, this time with his wife, Lidia, while apparently traveling toward Vassalboro. He again asks for Ephraim and then threatens Martha more openly, reminding her that, as an agent of the Kennebec Proprietors, he has influence over whether the Ballards secure legal title to their property. Martha answers that Rebecca Foster has already shown her exactly what kind of man North is.

The confrontation is interrupted when Percy, Ephraim’s falcon, swoops in and lands at the garden gate. Percy’s arrival signals that Ephraim is alive and nearby enough to send the bird, and North immediately loses his nerve and rides away with Lidia. Soon after, Moses Pollard arrives awkwardly to call on Hannah with a bouquet, and Martha recognizes from Hannah’s reaction that a match is likely. Martha sends Hannah, Moses, and Cyrus inside while Percy is fed one of the roosters.

Still anxious about Ephraim’s continued absence, Martha finally takes Percy to his mews herself, imitating Ephraim’s handling techniques well enough to avoid injury. Once inside, Martha discovers the real reason Percy returned: Ephraim has tied a note to the bird’s leg. The message tells Martha that Ephraim will meet her at the courthouse and instructs her to bring the book, confirming that he is alive and connecting his absence directly to the coming legal proceedings.