It is pleasant to dream that some spot in the extensive tract whose
south-western quarter is here described, may be the heath of that
traditionary King of Wessex--Lear.

July 1895



POSTSCRIPT


To prevent disappointment to searchers for scenery it should be added
that though the action of the narrative is supposed to proceed in the
central and most secluded part of the heaths united into one whole,
as above described, certain topographical features resembling those
delineated really lie on the margin of the waste, several miles to the
westward of the centre. In some other respects also there has been a
bringing together of scattered characteristics.

The first edition of this novel was published in three volumes in
1878.

April 1912 T. H.




BOOK FIRST
THE THREE WOMEN