Buy Lark Rise to Candleford

When a new baby is born into the family, eldest daughter Laura Timmins is told by her parents that she will have to make her own way in the world. Arrangements have been made for her to move to the nearby village of Candleford where she will be apprenticed to her cousin Dorcas Lane. Dorcas is the postmistress and a very successful businesswoman. Laura is quite sad at the prospect of leaving Lark Rise and her family, but her cousin is very kind and sets about teaching her the business. Trouble is brewing between Lark Rise and Candleford however when residents of the former complain of the high cost of telegram delivery. It gets worse when one of the residents can't afford to pay and misses the news that her brother is deathly ill.
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Dorcas Lane is apt to say that all secrets are bound to come out in Candleford and that seems to be the case with Mrs. Macey. She's been living in the village for five years with her son Freddy, who is a bit of a hellion. Her story has always been that her husband is a valet and away traveling. The truth is that her husband, Dan Macey, has been in prison but a letter brings her shocking news that is soon spread to every corner of the village. Caroline Arless has a date in court when she fails to pay for the barrel of beer she bought. With no husband, no money and another baby on the way, few are convinced that she will land anywhere but in debtors' prison.
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Dorcas Lane arranges for Patty, a young woman from the workhouse, to work as a housekeeper for Old and Young Amos. She is an honest and hard worker who found herself in the workhouse though no fault of her own, but that doesn't stop the village gossips from having their say. Problems do arise when both Amos' decide that they want to marry her. When the residents of Lark Rise decide to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Sir Timothy Midwinter's family presiding over the area, his wife Lady Adelaide is not sure she wants to participate. His asking Dorcas to take her place changes her mind. Politics also enter into the celebration when Laura's father refuses to let his children sing a Tory marching song, putting him into conflict with the Reverend Ellison.
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A debt collector arrives in Lark Rise looking to seize Caroline Arless' property and send her to debtors' prison. A Mr. Ashlow arrives in the village looking for his two daughters, who turn out to be the Pratt sisters. One of the sisters is not pleased to see him and will have nothing to do with him. They also shock Candleford with their new window display. Ashlow engages Caroline as a prop in selling his patent medicine, which proves to be quite popular, and in his gambling which proves equally lucrative. Dorcas shows Laura her dead letter box containing correspondence that cannot be delivered or returned to the sender. In it, they find many letters written to his daughters under their previous names.
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A new postal inspector, Mr. Rushton, arrives in Candleford to conduct the annual inspection. It's the man's first visit and his no nonsense approach does not sit well with Dorcas Lane who is convinced he doesn't approve of a woman running a postal station. Rushton insists that Thomas, who has been asked to preach a Sunday sermon, collect the mail that day as required as required by regulations. Over time however, he come to admire Dorcas greatly. Laura makes a great error when she misplaces the Pratt sisters much anticipated parcel. She searches high and low, but to no avail. Lady Midwinter thinks she might be pregnant.
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Having secured a month's work at the manor house, Laura's father takes in a homeless family. It's only meant to be for one night but when they wake the next morning, they find the family has gone on having left their little girl, Polly, behind. He takes her to work with him but when Lady Midwinter finds her in the garden, she proposes to her husband that they keep her as their own. He doesn't agree and raises eyebrows, especially those of the Pratt sisters, when he takes the girl to Dorcas' house late in the evening. Dorcas and Laura plot to move true love along by sending a poem Thomas friend, the Minister's daughter. He receives one in return but a mix-up leads some people to jump to wrong conclusions.
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The hamlet of Lark Rise is divided when Susan Brady brings charges of wife beating against her husband Sam. He hit her while drunk but she had always warned him not to raise a hand against her and now she is being true to her word. Emma Timmins tries to convince her otherwise, but she won't budge. Sir Timothy and Lady Adelaide have a major row when she dismisses the local workmen in favor of hiring someone from away to complete the new front gates. Laura brings home her young beau, Philip, for Sunday dinner but her father doesn't like his politics very much.
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Having spent the night in the pouring rain searching for Edmund Timmins, Twister Turrill finds his health in serious decline. He decides to distribute some of his personal effects to friends in Lark Rise. Knowing that her love for Sir Timothy can never lead to anything, Dorcas Lane announces that she is selling the postal outlet and will be traveling abroad. Philip the gamekeeper tells Sir Timothy that Robert Timmins knows who is poaching on the estate but Robert won't reveal the name and soon finds himself out of work. Laura and Philip subsequently argue. Caroline Arless is determined not to have her baby until her seaman husband returns home but goes into labor in the post office. Zillah prepares for her "surprise" birthday party.
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Christmas is fast approaching and the residents of Lark Rise and Candleford are making preparations. It appears that Dorcas Lane may be spending Christmas alone with Laura expected to be home with her parents and Thomas expecting to make his annual trek to his sisters. Thomas asks Margaret Ellison if she would spend Christmas with Dorcas and with the Rev. Ellison away, she gladly accepts. When Thomas learns that his sisters can't accommodate him this year and Laura's mum, much to later chagrin, tells Laura she must stay with Dorcas for the holiday, the postmistress happily finds herself with a house full of guests. The Pratt sisters have a terrible row leading to one of them being abandoned in the woods. Caroline Arless is fretting over whether her seafaring husband will be home for the holidays and whether he will stay once he gets there. Robert Timmins meets a mysterious young woman in the woods who may in fact be a ghost.
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A handsome stranger rides into Candleford, giving away silver three-penny coins. He has come from London to open his new hotel in the town, and Pearl and Ruby Pratt are delighted to welcome such a sophisticated incomer. However, he is actually James Dowland, a former Lark Rise orphan fostered by the Turrills who, on advice from Dorcas' father, left the area to make his fortune in the capital. In gratitude to his adopted parents he has their leaking roof mended, but Robert Timmins believes that he is not only buying the villagers' affections but also allowing the Turrills' greedy landlady, Mrs. Herring, to shirk her duties. However, when Mrs. Herring tries to move wealthier tenants in to replace Queenie and Twister, it is James' money and not Robert's principles which save the day. In the Candleford Post Office, meanwhile, Dorcas, whilst encouraging Thomas's courtship of Margaret, is having problems with her very stupid new young maid, Minnie, who creates more work than she achieves. After ruining Dorcas's mother's wedding dress Minnie prepares to be fired, but the kindly Dorcas, aware that Minnie has a sad home life with an abusive stepfather, allows her to stay provided she promises to improve her efforts.
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James Dowland campaigns for the parish council on a promise of house building but Robert challenges him, claiming that he is motivated by profit. When James' opponent withdraws through illness Dorcas puts herself forward as a candidate. In Lark Rise the battle of the sexes continues when the men complain that Lilly, a butch female itinerant laborer, has invaded the male domain of the local inn. This leads to a bitter row between Emma and Robert, ultimately resolved when she makes him admit his male arrogance and slips him one of her love letters. After a public debate where James patronizes Dorcas and it is clear that he will win the seat, he suggests to her that she did not want to be a councilor because it would depersonalize her. She replies that she only stood to give him, as a self-opinionated man opposed to female emancipation, a run for his money. Her trump card is the fact that she has persuaded the out-going councilors to peg the rents on his proposed new houses so that poorer folk like Lily will find them affordable.
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Parson Ellison dies and at his funeral Margaret is extremely hostile when her long-lost younger brother George appears. He is a qualified doctor who believes in science, not God, and she will not give him house room. To Thomas' disgust Dorcas puts him up and he proves popular in Lark Rise, as he has manual skills and is happy to pitch in and help build a foot-path. Eventually Margaret confronts him, admitting that her resentment was caused, not by his beliefs, but by the fact that he escaped to make a life for himself, condemning her to a life of duty to a bullying father - the true common enemy. Ashamed of her un-Christian outburst she gets very drunk which perplexes Thomas when he comes to propose marriage to her. He rides off into the storm and falls off his bicycle. When George rescues him there is a reconciliation between the siblings and Margaret and Thomas agree to a long engagement whilst she acts as the governess to the incumbent vicar's family.
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To help out stressed cousin Emma, Dorcas agrees to look after her baby, Annie, at the Post Office. Thomas is horrified but proves to be far more expert at child-care than Dorcas and her female friends, who are all very broody at Annie's presence. Thomas shocks Margaret by saying that he does not want them to have children, but later admits that this is due to his own unhappy upbringing, and, when the baby is heard to speak his name, has a change of heart. A cocky young Irishman called Fisher Bloom arrives in town to instal a public clock, paid for by James. The foolish Minnie, after an innocent night out with him, thinks she is pregnant because she starts a craving for boiled eggs, but, after initial, mutual, hostility, he begins to fall for Laura. James, meanwhile, seeks Robert's advice on how best to declare his feelings for Dorcas.
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Laura finds herself officially acting as Postmistress when Dorcas becomes quite ill and takes to her sick bed. Laura is the pride of her family and all of Lark Rise but soon has to deal with a number of problems which cause her to question her own abilities. Problems start when the telegraph machine malfunctions and they are forced to deliver partial and very cryptic messages. Suddenly, Thomas Brown begins sleepwalking thinking he's delivering mail. She's most disturbed with the threatening letters she begins receiving. Not realizing that Dorcas has had a chat with Fisher about dallying with her, Laura is hurt when the young man seems far cooler towards her. As Dorcas' condition worsens, it's left to Queenie Turrell to nurse her back to health. When the sender of the anonymous notes is identified, a recuperating Dorcas takes action.
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On the eve of the public opening of the clock, a vital piece does not arrive and Laura's father's tool-bag is stolen. His son Edmund sells his boots and Dorcas sets up a fund to buy him new tools. He is,predictably, resentful to be regarded as a charity case but relents when Emma tells him the response is one of gratitude, not condescension, from grateful friends and clients. Learning that her father was forced to stay in Lark Rise when he first arrived because Emma was so besotted with him she stole and hid his hammer Laura owns up to hiding the missing piece for the clock. It was to make Fisher stay. Whilst Fisher confesses his love for Laura, Robert gives him a harsh pep talk, asking if he is up to the responsibility of marriage after a life as an itinerant single craftsman and, having finished the clock together, the boy moves on. Laura is very upset but her father explains his logic to her and also solves the mystery of the missing hammer from years earlier. Dorcas accompanies James to the clock's unveiling as his official companion.
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Laura is still mourning Fisher's departure so Dorcas sends her home to Lark Rise, where her grandfather Edmund is visiting to celebrate his birthday. He once courted Queenie and annoys Twister with his presence, especially when he lets it drop that the Turrills never married. A sophisticated middle-aged widow, Celestia, sweeps into Candleford to stay at James' hotel and turns heads. Margaret is convinced she has bewitched Thomas as he keeps avoiding her but he is in fact moonlighting as a hotel porter to get extra money for their wedding and does not want her to know. Celestia was once James' lover when she helped him establish his hotel business in London and Dorcas feels betrayed that he never spoke about her, turning down his marriage proposal as she feels she cannot trust him. However, she later tells him that she was too hasty and will reconsider as everybody heads off to Lark Rise where Queenie and Twister are about to get married at last.
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Queenie and Twister finally decide to marry after so many years together and the entire hamlet of Lark Rise celebrates. For Alf it's an opportune event for soon after he meets the lovely Nan who lives nearby. There's been considerable animosity over the years between the residents of Lark Rise and Nan's hamlet and when Queenie's bees disappear, rumors begin that their neighbors are responsible putting Alf and Nan' budding friendship at risk. In Candleford, James Dowland is convinced that Dorcas will never return his affection and is despondent as a result. The hotel begins to suffer and with little income, James is forced to lay off staff including Thomas Brown whose marriage may now be in jeopardy due to lack of funds. When James is forced to refuse a large party because the hotel is ill-prepared to receive them, Dorcas, Laura and Minnie pitch in. As for Thomas Brown, everyone at the Post Office is encouraging him in their own way to set the date for the big day.
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With the coming of the fall fair, Constable Tillman's wife falls ill, something which seems to be an annual occurrence. As the Constable spends more and more time in his garden tending the vegetables he hopes will win him a prize, his wife seems to fall deeper into ill health. When she tells him that he is free to marry should she pass on he is struck by something of a thunderbolt by Pearl Pratt. They are soon exchanging flirtations and Pearl's sister Ruby is shocked by her sister's dalliance. Alf Arless meanwhile has his own plans for the fair and hopes to win the the 2 shilling prize for the largest potato. He's also given an opportunity to become an apprentice stonemason but he has other things on his mind.
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James discovers he has a ten-year-old son Sidney, whose mother has just died, but he is reluctant to remove the boy from his boarding school, feeling it would unsettle him. Dorcas argues that Sidney's place is with his father and they fall out over the matter. Laura hurts Alf by telling him she saw Nan kissing another boy. The explanation is innocent - the kiss was 'currency' to buy a pig for the Arless family - but Emma, frustrated by a false pregnancy scare, accuses her daughter of meddling, though they reconcile. Margaret annoys Thomas by asking Robert, whom he sees as an atheist, to give her away at their wedding, but has a change of heart when he hears her tell Minnie that her father was a bully, not a kind person like Robert. Dorcas finally persuades James to bring his son to Candleford but he falls off his horse on his way to fetch him.
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Whilst James recovers in hospital from his fall Sidney stays with Dorcas, whom he adores, showing no interest in his father, who discharges himself from hospital early, unsuccessfully trying to bully Dorcas into giving him his son. Nan is cruel to Alf, claiming that she prefers bad boys but Emma discovers that this is only because the girl feels she is not good enough for young Arless and reunites them. Margaret hides from Thomas in Lark Rise when she develops a nervous rash days before their wedding but admits to Robert that she should not worry about her appearance but marry Thomas, whom she deeply loves, rash or no rash. Miraculously her skin clears and the marriage goes ahead. However James is absent from the nuptials, having returned to London for a while and leaving his son with Dorcas.
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Daniel Parish, a young reporter for the Oxford Post comes to Lark Rise to tell Emma an aunt in Australia has died, leaving her £120 in Chancery. Laura is attracted to Daniel as a fellow writer but Dorcas accuses him of exploitation in order to obtain a crowd-pleasing story. Margaret and Thomas seek advice from the Turrills on getting Margaret pregnant and Ruby hides from Pearl the fact that she has met a man through the paper's Lonely Hearts column. Having considered using the windfall to buy a house in Candleford ultimately both Emma and Robert feel their place is to stay in Lark Rise, which is as well when, due to other claimants, the legacy turns out to be only seven pounds. They and their neighbours are angry with the patronizing tone of Daniel's article, though he tells Laura his editor altered it and the two youngsters remain friends.
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When a tree at Lark Rise appears to bleed human blood days before the bishop is coming to consecrate a new font people begin to act strangely. Twister takes to the street,telling everyone food will rain from the sky, Robert has trouble finishing the font and Dorcas accidentally tells Pearl of Ruby's pen-friend, causing the sisters to row, though they reconcile. An irate Thomas tries to chop the tree down but Dorcas stops him, reminding him that his faith is above local superstitions. Robert finishes the font,finding a fossil in the stone, but the bishop has to cancel due to illness - to Thomas's relief. Daniel returns to court Laura though Emma disapproves.
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When Alf Arliss gets his first proper wage and can afford to rent his own cottage he throws a house-warming party. But the Timmins' enjoyment is short-lived when Edmund announces he is leaving school to work in the fields,despite an excellent exam result. He argues with his parents and moves in with the Turrills, whilst the Arliss children accuse the Timmins family of snobbery because Emma wants better than labouring work for her boy. Dorcas, noting Minnie's maternal instincts, suggests she would make a good mother so, when Minnie finds a baby on her doorstep,she decides to 'practise' by caring for her in secret. The baby turns out to be the newly-born sister of Alf, whose mother is back in prison. Dorcas locks horns with Robert when she suggests he should hear out Edmund's viewpoint but father and son reconcile and Alf is impressed by Minnie's childcare.
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It is harvest time at Lark Rise and all the families are working in the fields. However a measles epidemic sweeps through the county and as the mothers must stay at home to look after the sick children the harvest is in danger of being so delayed that it cannot be saved.Daniel,come to tell Laura that he is leaving to work in Cambridge, deliberately gives up his new job to stay on and organize isolation and to rally the people of Candleford to come to Lark Rise to act as field workers and nurses. The harvest is gathered in and the epidemic passes,but there are deaths, including Alf's brother Archie.
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Mr. Reppington, a recluse staying at the Golden Lion hotel, asks Dorcas to administer a fund he has set up to help poor widows. He turns out to be William Bourne, a famous concert pianist who has now given up playing as he is mourning his childhood sweetheart, a Candleford girl whom he sacrificed for his career and who has recently died after years of marriage to another man. Dorcas persuades him to come out of retirement and give a recital. She and Minnie also prevail upon Ruby,who is leaving for Pontefract, to bid a proper farewell to Pearl rather than slipping away in the night whilst Daniel gets Emma out of a compromising situation.
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Pegleg,a crippled Crimean War veteran, makes his annual pilgrimage to Lark Rise to beg and Daniel,setting up his new paper The Candleford Chronicle,plans to highlight the government's shameful treatment of him by denying him a war pension. In the event it turns out that Pegleg is a wealthy professional beggar who has opted for his life style but the story is printed to highlight the plight of other veterans. Thomas feels inadequate after reading a Self Help book but is cheered by his wife's faith in him whilst Alf lets a lovestruck Minnie down gently.
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Sir Timothy is expected to visit Lark Rise from London to view the locals' Mummers play but only Lady Adelaide shows up. The play goes ahead,with Queenie, who has temporarily left Twister to teach him a lesson, upstaging her husband, but afterwards Lady Adelaide confesses to Dorcas that she had a short fling, now over, with another man, causing a rift with Timothy. She assumed he had returned to Lark Rise to seek comfort with his old flame, Dorcas, hence her visit, but Dorcas assures her that she has long since given up any romantic interest in Timothy and sends Adelaide back to her husband.
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Pearl Pratt is struggling to maintain her business after Ruby's departure and is overjoyed when Enid,a brilliant seamstress, shows up in Candleford and works for her, revitalizing the shop. However they fall out when Enid reveals she belongs to the Rational Dress Society, who oppose the wearing of corsets, and makes an oration outside the shop. Enid is also a runaway wife,whose husband has stifled her dress-making skills and Pearl, feeling doubly betrayed,is about to report her but changes her mind when she sees it is better to be liked than respected. Consequently she waves Enid goodbye as she leaves to live with relatives in America and set up business there. Thomas and Daniel come to grief whilst playing conkers and Sidney goes to great lengths to prevent a goose being killed for Michaelmas.
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After a visit to Oxford,where postmen work shorter,prescribed hours, Thomas strives to form a union but gets little help from his colleagues. Dorcas is patronizing and ultimately Robert provides a workable compromise. Margaret and Emma both step into the breach when the village schoolmistress is scared off by the rowdy children and both hope to get the post permanently. Neither is supported by her husband, Thomas being annoyed that Margaret sees the job as compensation for her childlessness and Robert believing Emma should look after the family.Ultimately the job goes to an outsider though the women reconcile with their spouses.
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Bessie Mullins,the biggest gossip in Lark Rise, points the finger at Daniel when her daughter Emily gets pregnant and refuses to name the father. She has no proof and nobody believes her until Minnie sees Daniel give Emily money. Dorcas discovers he was only acting as agent for the real father, son of Emily's wealthy employers who have sent him abroad in disgrace. Bessie apologizes to Daniel and, although considering returning the money as a gesture of defiance, decides it is better for the baby if she and Emily keep it. Twister sulks when Queenie sells his chair to pay the rent and Minnie and Alf get close though a letter from Fisher Bloom to say he is returning to the area drives a wedge between Laura and Daniel.
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Fisher Bloom arrives in Candleford on his way to a commission in the nearby town of Inglestone. He is greeted with general hostility by the friends of Laura and Daniel and Laura explains she no longer loves him. Dorcas is looking forward to Mischief Night when the townsfolk play pranks on each other but is less happy when Fisher tells her his work in Inglestone is connected with the arrival of the railway there,which will divert postal services from Candleford to her detriment. As Mischief Night ends Fisher leaves town, after a heart-to-heart with Laura,which has left her feeling emotionally confused. There is a general air of relief - which vanishes as Fisher returns the next day.
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As Fisher tells Daniel he is his love rival for Laura and Laura feels torn between the two boys Dorcas makes an unwelcome discovery. In the light of the railway forcing new arrangements, Blakestone, the district manager and an old enemy of hers, wants to buy the Candleford post office for his son and will turn her out if she refuses. Daniel organizes a campaign to support her, backed by all in Lark Rise and Candleford and Dorcas finds a clause in the regulations that allows her to thwart Blakestone and stay on. Impressed by Daniel's loyalty and his practical sense, Laura chooses him over the 'dreamier' Fisher, who leaves town. Minnie and Alf begin to walk out properly whilst adopting a gorgeous stray dog brings joy to the Browns.
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Robert is working in Oxford and sending money home whilst Ruby Pratt has returned from Pontefract after splitting with her gentleman friend. Gabriel Cochrane,whose wife has died and whose foundry has been repossessed by the bank comes to Candleford,penniless, and Dorcas employs him in her forge where the work interests Sydney. After Laura's brother Edmund has collected money from Robert at the post office he arrives home saying he has been robbed. The whole village rallies round Emma but in fact Edmund spent the money on himself and laura makes it up from her savings.
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Daniel launches a poetry competition in his paper. Ruby Pratt,jealous of her sister Pearl's doting on their young lodger,puts it about that the contest is rigged and Laura,as Daniel's girl-friend,is set to win it. Laura withdraws from the contest but, after she has had a lace-making lesson and heart-to-heart with Queenie, Ruby feels guilty and urges Laura to reenter,at the same time reconciling with Pearl,though the prize is won by Emma after Laura has entered one of her mother's old poems. Dorcas and Laura find,hidden in a book,a letter from Gideon's late wife to her lover,claiming that she only got married for material gain and does not love her husband. They agree to keep it from him although he is aware that there is another man who regularly puts flowers on the woman's grave.
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Queenie wins a pig at a fair and plans to fatten it up to share with the inhabitants of Lark Rise. However daft Twister 'sells' it to various Candleford residents and then loses the money. Queenie throws him out and Gabriel lets him stay at the post office,annoying Dorcas,though she relents when Gabriel sorts things out regarding the pig. Minnie believes that Alf cheated to win the fair's shin kicking contest,leading to a temporary rift.
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Daniel throws down a challenge for a grudge match against the cricket team from Little Garth,whose captain Larry Jupp is a notorious cheat. But with Thomas away,there are no star players in the Candleford side until it transpires that Margaret is an excellent batswoman. However women are disallowed from playing so the Pratt sisters disguise her as a man. Laura,feeling Daniel is obsessive about the game,talks Margaret out of playing,and the team does badly.. .until Dorcas comes up with an idea. Gabriel also comes to see why Dorcas will never marry.
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Gabriel finishes work on his steam-powered seed planter,planning to tour the county hiring it out. He asks Alf to accompany him but Alf turns him down as his feckless mother Caroline has returned and Alf feels he has to look after his young sisters as she is a bad mother. However,Caroline agrees to mend her ways after being accused of selfishness by Minnie,to whom Alf proposes. Gabriel also has a change of heart and decides to stay in Candleford and marry Dorcas whilst the Browns find that they have a baby on the way.
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