Return of the Native Book 6 Chapter 1

In which the quiet progression of life on Egdon Heath unfolds with Thomasin settling comfortably into her new independence while Clym retreats into solitary reflection, and the village braces for the Maypole festivities that chime with ancient traditions. As old acquaintances cross paths beneath the flowering Maypole, subtle changes in dress and demeanour hint at the comings and goings of the heart, amid the ever-present watching of the moonlit heath.