A group of carolers, including a young man named John, visits a widow's home during Christmas. John is infatuated with the widow and hopes to propose to her. As they sing, a man named Giles Swetman appears behind the widow, revealing that she has recently married him. John, heartbroken, collapses upon hearing this news. The carolers rush to help him, and the widow, realizing the pain she has caused, is distraught. Michael, another member of the group, confronts the widow for breaking her promise to John. Swetman, unaware of the situation, expresses his shock and disappointment upon learning of the widow's previous engagement to John. The widow, overwhelmed with grief, runs away, followed by her husband. The group searches for her throughout the night but cannot find her. John discovers that the well cover is open, leading to fears of a tragic accident. They lower a lantern into the well and find the widow's white drapery, indicating her death. The community mourns her loss, and the funeral is attended by both Swetman and John, who are both deeply affected by her passing. The carolers perform a psalm at her grave, marking the end of a tragic love story intertwined with themes of unfulfilled promises and the consequences of choices made.
By Thomas Hardy · First published 1891 · Genre: Tragedy, Romance, Drama