Two years have passed since the destruction of the Philadephia. Brenton is working at the redgum mill dreaming of rebuilding the Philadelphia while Delie resumes her old job of colouring postcards. After Brenton loses his job, Delie and son Gordon move to Melbourne where she reconnects with Alastair Raeburn who agrees to sponsor her work. Delie's friend Imogen believes Alastair is interested in more than just Delie's art and she is proven right when Alastair eventually professes his love for Delie. Brenton turns to sly-grogging to finance the rebuilding of the Philadelphia while Ben departs to join to the army. Ben stops in Melbourne to see Delie but sees how much she has changed since leaving Echuca and is worried she won't be going back. With reconstruction of the Philadelphia underway, Brenton takes a job with George Blakeney. Delie departs suddenly from Melbourne and returns to Echuca but her reunion with Brenton is cut short when he is critically injured in a riverboat accident.
