The Return of the Native Book 4, Chapter 7 Summary

The Tragic Meeting of Two Old Friends

  • Back at Casa Clym, Clym has woken up from his nap. Turns out, he was dreaming about his mother.
  • Eustacia is feeling very guilty and keeps her mouth shut. She acts very awkward.
  • Clym finally decides to just go to his mother's house himself to make amends.
  • Eustacia tries to convince him not to go but drops the subject when he insists on going.
  • So Clym sets out across the heath.
  • Suddenly, Clym comes across a figure lying on the heath. It's dark now and he can't see who it is right away.
  • But as he gets closer he realizes it's his mom.
  • Clym picks her up in a panic and rushes toward the cottages occupied by locals like Fairway and Sam and Humphrey.
  • The locals all come to help Mrs. Yeobright and Sam realizes that she's been bitten by a poisonous snake.
  • They send for a doctor and try some local remedies to cure her and to get the poison out of her.
  • Clym anxiously waits to see if his mom will get better.