The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Return of the Native, by Thomas Hardy

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Title: The Return of the Native

Author: Thomas Hardy

Release Date: January 12, 2006 [eBook #17500]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)

***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RETURN OF THE NATIVE***

E-text prepared by Joseph E. Loewenstein, M.D., and John Hamm

THE RETURN OF THE NATIVE

by

THOMAS HARDY

1912

CONTENTS

AUTHOR'S PREFACE

BOOK FIRST: THE THREE WOMEN

I. A Face on Which Time Makes But Little Impression
II. Humanity Appears upon the Scene, Hand in Hand with Trouble
III. The Custom of the Country
IV. The Halt on the Turnpike Road
V. Perplexity among Honest People
VI. The Figure against the Sky
VII. Queen of Night
VIII. Those Who Are Found Where There Is Said to Be Nobody
IX. Love Leads a Shrewd Man into Strategy
X. A Desperate Attempt at Persuasion
XI. The Dishonesty of an Honest Woman

BOOK SECOND: THE ARRIVAL

I. Tidings of the Comer
II. The People at Blooms-End Make Ready
III. How a Little Sound Produced a Great Dream
IV. Eustacia Is Led On to an Adventure
V. Through the Moonlight
VI. The Two Stand Face to Face
VII. A Coalition between Beauty and Oddness
VIII. Firmness Is Discovered in a Gentle Heart

BOOK THIRD: THE FASCINATION

I. "My Mind to Me a Kingdom Is"
II. The New Course Causes Disappointment
III. The First Act in a Timeworn Drama
IV. An Hour of Bliss and Many Hours of Sadness
V. Sharp Words Are Spoken, and a Crisis Ensues
VI. Yeobright Goes, and the Breach Is Complete
VII. The Morning and the Evening of a Day
VIII. A New Force Disturbs the Current

BOOK FOURTH: THE CLOSED DOOR

I. The Rencounter by the Pool
II. He Is Set Upon by Adversities; but He Sings a Song
III. She Goes Out to Battle against Depression
IV. Rough Coercion Is Employed
V. The Journey across the Heath
VI. A Conjuncture, and Its Result upon the Pedestrian
VII. The Tragic Meeting of Two Old Friends
VIII. Eustacia Hears