
In the mist‑shrouded Vale of the Exe, a young milkmaid named Margery begins her day with the familiar rhythm of cows, pails of milk, and the soft chatter of the countryside. The narrative paints the early May morning in vivid detail, from the damp fog that clings to the hills to the delicate pink frock she wears, inviting listeners into a world where nature’s moods shape every step.
As Margery delivers butter‑rolls to a sleepy elder and exchanges quick words with the village postman, she sets off toward the nearby town, hinting at errands that may lead her beyond ordinary chores. The gentle humor of the local dairyman and the bustling sounds of farm life suggest a community ripe with chance encounters, promising a series of light‑hearted, romantic adventures that unfold as the fog lifts and new possibilities appear on the horizon.
Language
en
Duration
~3 hours (183K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2001-12-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1840–1928
One of the great English novelists of the Victorian age, he brought the rural world of Dorset to life with unusual honesty and emotional force. His stories often balance beauty, chance, and heartbreak in ways that still feel strikingly modern.
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