In the early years of Queen Victoria's reign Abel Lackland's children are grown up. Two of his sons have followed their father into medicine. The other, Jonah, now married to Lilith's daughter, has achieved his dream of a career on the stage. However, the reality of being an actor is harsher than he ever imagined - it is a daily struggle to provide for his wife and children. Suddenly something comes into their lives that drives a wedge between them.