The Return of the NativeThis historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1920 edition. Excerpt: ...her? No lady would rove about the heath at all hours of the day and night as she does. But that's not all of it. There was something queer between her and Thomasin's husband at one time--I am as sure of it as that I stand here.' 'Eustacia has told me. He did pay her a little attention a year ago; but there's no harm in that. I like her all the better.' 'Clym, ' said his mother with firmness, 'I have no proofs against her, unfortunately. But if she makes you a good wife, there has never been a bad one." 'Believe me, you are almost exasperating, ' said Yeobright vehemently. 'And this very day I had intended to arrange a meeting between you. But you give me no peace; you try to thwart my wishes in everything.' 'I hate the thought of any son of mine marrying badly I wish I had never lived to see this; it is too much for me--it is more than I thought ' She turned to the window. Her breath was coming quickly, and her lips were pale, parted, and trembling. 'Mother, ' said Clym, 'whatever you do, you will always be dear to me--that you know. 'But one thing I have a right to say, which is, that at my age I am old enough to know what is best for me.' Mrs. Yeobright remained for some time silent and shaken, as if she could say no more. Then she replied, 'Best? Is it best for you to injure your prospects for such a voluptuous, idle woman as that? Don't you see that by the very fact of your choosing her you prove that you do not know what is best for you? You give up your whole thought--you set your whole soul--to please a woman.' 'I do. And that woman is you.' 'How can you treat me so flippantly ' said his mother, turning again to him with a tearful look. 'You are unnatural, Clym, and I did not expect it.' 1 Very likely, ' said he cheerlessly. 'You did not know... |
Contents
CONTENTS BOOK FIRST The Three Women | 7 |
A Face on which Time makes but little Impression | 9 |
Humanity appears upon the scene hand in hand with Trouble | 13 |
The Custom of the Country | 18 |
The Halt on the Turnpikeroad | 38 |
Perplexity among Honest People | 43 |
The Figure against the Sky | 55 |
Queen of Night | 68 |
An Hour of Bliss and many Hours of Sadness | 192 |
Sharp Words are spoken and a Crisis ensues | 199 |
Yeobright goes and the Breach is complete | 206 |
The Morning and the Evening of an Eventful Day | 213 |
A New Force disturbs the current | 225 |
BOOK FOURTH The Closed Door | 233 |
The Rencounter by the Pool | 235 |
He is set upon by Adversities but he sings a Song | 241 |
Those who are found where there is said to be Nobody | 74 |
Love leads a shrewd Man into Strategy | 79 |
A desperate Attempt at Persuasion | 88 |
The Dishonesty of an Honest Woman | 96 |
BOOK SECOND The Arrival | 105 |
Tidings of the Comer | 107 |
The People at BloomsEnd make ready III | 111 |
How a little Sound produced a great Dream | 115 |
Eustacia is led on to an Adventure | 120 |
Through the Moonlight | 129 |
The Two stand Face to Face | 136 |
A Coalition between Beauty and Oddness | 146 |
Firmness is Discovered in a Gentle Heart | 155 |
BOOK THIRD The Fascination | 165 |
My Mind to me a Kingdom is | 167 |
The new Course causes Disappointment | 171 |
The First Act in a Timeworn Drama | 179 |
She goes out to battle against Depression | 251 |
Rough Coercion is employed | 262 |
The Journey across the Heath | 269 |
An Awkward Conjuncture and its Result upon the Pedestrian | 273 |
The Tragical Meeting of Two Old Friends | 283 |
Eustacia hears of Good Fortune and beholds Evil | 290 |
BOOK FIFTH The Discovery | 299 |
Wherefore is Light given to him that is in Misery? | 301 |
A lurid Light breaks in upon a darkened Understanding | 308 |
Eustacia dresses herself under sad Circumstances | 317 |
The Ministrations of a Halfforgotten One | 324 |
An old Move inadvertently repeated | 329 |
The Night of the Sixth of November | 341 |
Rain Darkness and anxious Wanderers | 349 |
The inevitable Movement Onward | 371 |
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Common terms and phrases
Alderworth appeared asked aunt barrow began Belgravia Blackbarrow Blooms-End bonfire Budmouth Charley Charlotte Brontë Christian Clym Clym's colour Damon dance dark Diggory distracting hero door Dorset Dowden Egdon Heath Eustacia Vye eyes face Fairway feel fire furze girl gone grandfather Grandfer Cantle hand Hardy's head heard hill hour Humphrey husband Jude the Obscure knew lantern light live looked ma'am marriage married mean mind minutes Mis'ess Miss Vye Mistover morning mother mummers murmured neighbours never night novel once passed path reached reddleman replied returned round Saint George scene seemed seen silent soon stood strange Sturminster Newton suppose Tamsin tell there's thing Thomas Hardy Thomasin thought to-night told tone turned Venn voice waiting walk Wessex wife Wildeve Wildeve's window wish women words Yeobright young