Return of the Native: Works of HardyPREFACE The date at which the following events are assumed to have occurred may be set down as between 1840 and 1850, when the old watering place herein called "Budmouth" still retained sufficient afterglow from its Georgian gaiety and prestige to lend it an absorbing attractiveness to the romantic and imaginative soul of a lonely dweller inland. Under the general name of "Egdon Heath," which has been given to the sombre scene of the story, are united or typified heaths of various real names, to the number of at least a dozen; these being virtually one in character and aspect, though their original unity, or partial unity, is now somewhat disguised by intrusive strips and slices brought under the plough with varying degrees of success, or planted to woodland. It is pleasant to dream that some spot in the extensive tract whose southwestern quarter is here described, may be the heath of that traditionary King of Wessex—Lear. July, 1895. "To sorrow I bade good morrow, And thought to leave her far away behind; But cheerly, cheerly, She loves me dearly; She is so constant to me, and so kind. I would deceive her, And so leave her, But ah! she is so constant and so kind." |
Contents
4An Hour of Bliss and Many Hours of Sadness | |
5Sharp Words Are Spoken and a Crisis Ensues | |
6Yeobright Goes and the Breach Is Complete | |
7The Morning and the Evening of a | |
8A New Force Disturbs the Current | |
BOOK FOUR THE CLOSED DOOR 1The Rencounter by the Pool | |
2He Is Set upon by Adversities but He Sings a Song | |
3She Goes Out to Battle against Depression | |
8Those Who Are Found Where There Is Said to Be Nobody | |
9Love Leads a Shrewd Man into Strategy | |
10A Desperate Attempt at Persuasion | |
11The Dishonesty of an Honest Woman | |
BOOK TWO THE ARRIVAL | |
1Tidings of the Comer | |
2The People at BloomsEnd Make Ready | |
3How a Little Sound Produced a Great Dream | |
4Eustacia Is Led on to an Adventure | |
5Through the Moonlight | |
6The Two Stand Face to Face | |
7A Coalition between Beauty and Oddness | |
8Firmness Is Discovered in a Gentle Heart | |
BOOK THREE THE FASCINATION 1My Mind to Me a Kingdom | |
2The New Course Causes Disappointment | |
3The First Act in a Timeworn Drama | |
4Rough Coercion Is Employed | |
5The Journey across the Heath | |
6A Conjuncture and Its Result upon the Pedestrian | |
7The Tragic Meeting of Two Old Friends | |
8Eustacia Hears of Good Fortune and Beholds Evil | |
BOOK FIVE THE DISCOVERY 1Wherefore Is Light Given to Him That Is in Misery | |
2A Lurid Light Breaks in upon a Darkened Understanding | |
3Eustacia Dresses Herself on a Black Morning | |
4The Ministrations of a Halfforgotten | |
5An Old Move Inadvertently Repeated | |
6Thomasin Argues with Her Cousin and He Writes a Letter | |
7The Night of the Sixth of November | |
8Rain Darkness and Anxious Wanderers | |
9Sights and Sounds Draw the Wanderers Together | |
BOOK SIX AFTERCOURSES 1The Inevitable Movement Onward | |
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Common terms and phrases
afternoon Alderworth appeared asked aunt back bank barrow began better BloomsEnd bonfire brambles Budmouth Charley Christian Clym Clym's colour Damon dance dark Diggory door Egdon Heath Eustacia eyes face Fairway Father Christmas feel fern fire furze garden girl gone grandfather Grandfer Cantle guineas hand head heard hill home hour house Humphrey husband knew know lantern last left light little live long looked love ma'am marriage married Maypole mean mind minutes Mis'ess Miss Vye Mistover morning mother mummers murmured neighbours never night number o'clock once open passed path place Quiet Woman Rainbarrow reached reddleman replied returned room round Saint George Saracen scene seemed seen sigh silent soon stood strange suppose Tamsin tell there's thing think Thomasin thought told tone tonight took trouble tumulus turned twas Venn Venn's voice waiting walk want wife Wildeve Wildeve's window wish words Yeobright young