The members of the Pickwick Club are welcomed to a game of cards at Manor House, as are several other guests. In attendance is Mr. Wardle’s deaf, old mother, whose hearing improves once cards are mentioned. The clergyman tells the tale “The Convict’s Return,” which is about members of his local parish. A woman, much abused by her husband, is a faithful attendant at the church with her young son. She devotes herself to prayer and reading the Bible. After several years, the son, now a young man, does not show up with her at church. He has taken to running with a wild crowd, and it is not long before he is convicted of robbery. He is initially sentenced to death but the sentence is commuted to transportation overseas for fourteen years. His mother visits him in prison faithfully in the time leading to his exile, but one day she does not appear. She has fallen ill. The clergyman gives her message to her son of her forgiveness and love. Not long after the young convict takes ship for foreign lands, the woman dies. The young convict returns after serving out his sentence but finds no sign of his mother; a new family is living in his old home. When he stops on a bank, he spots an old man whom he recognizes as his father. He starts to attack him but stops himself because this is his father. The old man bursts a blood vessel while screaming at his son and dies. The clergyman says the young convict is now buried in the churchyard, having been his servant for three years after his return from exile.

The next morning, Mr. Wardle invites the four Pickwickians to go hunting. Mr. Winkle, who is reported to be an expert hunter, manages to miss the birds at which he is aiming. Instead, he hits Mr. Tupman in the arm. Tupman is carried home and is greeted by the outcries of the maiden aunt, Rachael. Tupman assures her that he is alive. Mr. Wardle then suggests that the rest of them leave Tupman in the care of the ladies and go to a nearby cricket match between the local Dingley Dells and the All-Muggletons. On arriving at the game, the members of the Pickwick Club meet the stranger from their first coach ride. His name is Arthur Jingle, and he supports the All-Muggleton team. After the match, the gentlemen attend a dinner.

As the other members are out hunting, Tupman professes his love to Miss Rachael, and she returns his feelings. Joe the fat boy discovers them, and he tells old Mrs. Wardle. Jingle overhears this conversation and tells Rachael that Tupman just wants her money and is in fact in love with her niece, Emily. Then Jingle warns Tupman that Rachael is worried that her brother will be upset, so she wants him to pay attention to Emily. At dinner, Mr. Wardle sees Tupman chatting with Emily, so he feels convinced that Joe is wrong. Rachael, however, sees this as validation of Jingle’s report.