Delie quickly attracts the attention of the town gossips, living alone in a ladies boarding house. Luckily, she finds work hand-colouring photographs. Delie is trying hard to ignore riverboat labourer Brenton Edwards who is working even harder to draw her attention. Tom sells another share in the paddle steamer, this time to Brenton, making him and Delie business partners, much to her chagrin. Uncle Charles brings word of Aunt Hester's failing health. Delie returns to see her aunt on her deathbed but despite Hester clearing Delie of any blame for Adam's death, her last words to Delie are that she can never forgive her. Delie has no desire to stay on with her uncle and joins Brenton and Tom on the Philadelphia.
