A clearer picture of the Honeychurch family's position in their community emerges. Cecil meddles in finding new tenants, and Lucy goes to visit him and his mother at their place in London.
Cecil meets the neighbors of the Honeychurch family, and dislikes them. His first kiss from Lucy goes awry.
From Italy, the scene shifts to Sussex, England. Here we meet Lucy's mother and brother, and find she has a new suitor.
All our cast goes for a sight-seeing drive, with a reckless and amorous coachman. Lucy has an encounter with George Emerson that causes consternation; Charlotte decides they must leave Florence.
Lucy, confused by the previous day, accompanies Charlotte on errands. En route, they meet the novelist, Miss Lavish, and hear distressing rumors of the Emersons from the Rev. Mr. Eager.
Only at the piano does Lucy reveal her inward passion; conversation with Miss Alan and Rev. Mr. Beebe shows social constraints. She goes alone on an errand, and sees a violent crime. Faint, she accepts George Emerson's company.
Lucy sets out to view the Church of the Holy Cross, with a clever lady as guide. They lose their way, and then lose sight of one another. Lucy meets the Emersons at the church, and learns more of them than she wanted to know.
Miss Honeychurch, chaperoned by Miss Bartlett, touring Florence in the early 1900's, has an unsuitable room; unsuitable strangers offer their better rooms instead.
For listeners who may want further information on the historical background of Lorna Doone, my spouse and I offer this.
The Wonderful Tar-Baby Story, and How Mr. Rabbit Was Too Sharp For Mr. Fox (the Briar Patch).
Of course you've heard of Rip's long nap; here's the whole story of the henpecked feckless farmer who went for a ramble, drank strange drink with strangers, drowsed off a loyal subject of George III, and woke 20 years later in the young USA.
Jack London's account of a foolhardy arctic Yukon trip, in late December of the early twentieth century.
John, exhausted, wounded, and sick, believes Lorna dead. Almost, but Ruth brings her back with devoted care, and Lorna's recovery enables John's.
Lorna, in charge of herself (thanks to bribing Lord Jeffreys), returns to John and Plover's Barrows. Their wedding is tragically disrupted by Carver, who finally faces John's implacable wrath.
Local people, under John's leadership, fight to rid themselves of the murderous Doones. Much is unsettled after the battle, and the most dangerous Doone, Carver, escapes.
Sir John returns to Exmoor and finds the Doones have newly outraged their long-suffering neighbors. He tries to talk them into making amends. When they refuse with bullets, he joins the plan for a new attack.
John and Lorna see one another after long separation, and come to a clear understanding, despite her rank and wealth. John prevents her uncle from being robbed, and gains royal regard.
John is led to badly wounded rebel Tom by Winnie, Tom's mare. Tom escapes, but innocent John is captured, and threatened with death. Reprieved to wait trial in London, he hears there from Lorna.
Annie boldly obtains a truce from the Doones, freeing John to search for her husband, who rashly joined the Monmouth Rebellion. Amid carnage, John finds a sign of Tom.
Lives of ordinary people and outlaws alike change when Charles II dies. Disturbances follow, which John tries to ignore in his sorrow at Lorna's absence and silence, but he is caught up too.
In Lorna's absence, sharp tempers and hurt feelings abound. John seeks comfort from sister Annie at her new home. Getting none, and giving less, he goes to cousin Ruth in Dulverton.
John reunites Gwenny and her father. He's challenged to wrestle an even bigger man in Cornwall. While he's away, Lorna is taken by court order from the farm, to live with her guardian in London.
John reflects on a legend about Wizard's Slough, where he meets Uncle Reuben. He is shown his uncle's secret, meets a sceptical Cornishman, and breaks a big obstacle.
John visits the forlorn grave of Lorna's mother, and reunites Lorna with her nanny. Tom convinces John and Mrs. Ridd to allow his marriage to Annie. John is sent to Dulverton to buy gifts, where Uncle Reuben promises to disclose his secret.
Lorna and John's love is tested by news of her wealth, rank, and legal jeopardy. John seeks Lorna's nurse, to verify her identity.
Jeremy leads the rival militias of Devon and Somerset against the Doone stronghold. Agents of the Court of Chancery seek Lorna and her estate at the Ridd's farm.
Jeremy tells John of meeting the hostess of an inn; she came to England from Italy, in service to a noble family, and reveals the tragic end of Lorna's real parents.
Counsellor Doone visits the Ridds, intimidates, flatters, and tells Lorna and John that their fathers killed one another. Failing to split them, the Counsellor steals Lorna's precious necklace.
Lorna's presence in John's life causes a stir in the neighborhood, the household, and especially with Cousin Ruth.
John and Jeremy prepare to defend the farm from marauding Doones. Carver threatens Lorna. She wakes the weary John, and reinforced, they fight off the Doones.
