The boys compete in a series of grueling army tests in order to win a place out of the Foundling Hospital and into the big wide world as a drummer boy in the army. With Vince determined to beat his main rival Mathias, a bitter battle is set to turn nasty. Meanwhile, Hetty and Sheila are forced to work together in the Infirmary as nurses tending to a sickly boy, Charlie. But will their rivalry get in the way of looking after the ailing patient?

A distraught couple have come to reclaim their child, but which Foundling could it be? With Hetty determined to find out, someone could be leaving with the parents for good. But will Matron allow the Foundling to be reclaimed without a fight? Meanwhile, Gideon plans on escaping in search of his parents, but Vince and Judd have other plans.

It's open day at the Foundling Hospital, and just when Hetty sees Madame Adeline there, thinking she could be her real mother, Matron tasks Hetty with looking after Lord Upton's snooty daughter, Charlotte. When it transpires that Matron has plans to send Hetty to India as Charlotte's maid, Hetty's days as a Foundling could be coming to an end. And will she ever find her mother again?