The Return of the Native: Book 3, Chapter 7 Summary & Analysis

Mrs. Yeobright does not attend Clym’s wedding. Instead, she spends the day at home, sad and alone. Before long, Wildeve stops by because he heard there is something for Thomasin that needs to be picked up. Immediately, Mrs. Yeobright is skeptical of Wildeve. She thinks Wildeve may know about Thomasin’s money and means to claim it for himself. As such, she tells Wildeve that she will give it to Thomasin later. Wildeve finds this strange but does not put too much stock into it.

After Wildeve’s departure, Mrs. Yeobright contemplates the best way to send Thomasin the money without Wildeve’s knowledge. She decides that it would make the most sense to have Christian deliver it. Additionally, she decides to give Clym his part of the inheritance as a wedding gift. She gives the money to Christian and tells him her plan. Christian agrees to deliver the money and sets off to do so. On his way to Thomasin, he comes across some of the locals, including Fairway, who convince him to come to Wildeve’s inn with them.

Christian arrives at the Quiet Woman Inn with the others, and they convince him to gamble. He manages to win some money and insists on keeping the dice that led him to victory. After, Christian briefly speaks to Wildeve and implies that he has money to give to Thomasin. Wildeve realizes that the money is what Mrs. Yeobright refused to give him. He is annoyed that she doesn’t trust him enough to give him Thomasin’s inheritance and starts to plot his revenge.  

Wildeve follows Christian from the inn and talks him into gambling some more. He tells Christian that the money he is gambling with belongs to Wildeve anyway, so it won’t be a big deal if he loses. Christian accepts the offer and slowly loses all of Thomasin’s money. He becomes addicted to the game and starts using Clym’s money, as well. Wildeve is unaware that some of the money belongs to Clym and continues with the game. Eventually, Christian loses all of the money that Mrs. Yeobright gave to him and then flees in shame. However, just as Christian departs, Venn shows up.