to Demelza. The girl is named Clowance. Ray Penvenen dies in late November. Morwenna Chynoweth and Geoffrey Charles Poldark are left at Trenwith, with Aunt Agatha and servants, while Elizabeth and George Warleggan spend months late in the year and on into the new year at their estate Cardew. Drake Carne takes advantage of their absence to frequently visit Geoffrey Charles and Morwenna at Trenwith. This allows him to develop his relationship with Morwenna. They kiss for the first time: "He bent his head and put his lips against hers. Her lips were cool and a little dry, like petals just unfurling from the bud. Complete chastity and complete sexuality coexisted in them... so a relationship was sealed that had no business to begin and no authority to continue." At Cardew, George announces to Elizabeth that he has decided to find a wealthy or socially connected husband for Morwenna. Osborne "Ossie" Whitworth is chosen. The Warleggans decide to close Wheal Leisure even though it is still making a modest profit. Ross, when told of this, says, "Merciful God... that will mean throwing upon the parish sixty or seventy folk: thirty-five to forty families will be affected, among them some of my own friends". Ross becomes involved in a plan, financed by the British government, to land an expeditionary force on the French coast of five to six thousand French soldiers who are loyal to the French royalty. His involvement is because the landing point is about eighty miles from where he believes Dwight is a prisoner-of-war. The Warleggans return to Trenwith. George dislikes the sound of toads croaking. He had previously ordered the removal of all toads from the pond near the residence. But, on his first morning back, toads are lustily croaking. He is angry. After several days of toad removal, his workmen tell him they believe that toads are being re-added to the pond periodically as a hostile act against George. George begins to believe that Ross is the malefactor. He sets five men to guard the pond during the still watches of the night. It is in fact Drake Carne who is responsible for adding the toads. He engages in an expedition on a night with five watchmen posted; they nearly catch him. He escapes, but with a significant injury. As Book Two closes, it is late spring of 1795, and Drake Carne learns from Geoffrey Charles