This story began at Christmas—when a group of boys from the village of Mellstock went about singing carols. That’s when the cabman Dick Dewey saw and fell in love at first sight with Fancy Day, the new teacher who had just arrived. She is courted both by the prosperous farmer Shainer, whom Fancy’s father favors, and by Pastor Maybould, who considers himself the most fitting match for Fancy. But the story didn’t begin in fairy-tale Christmas days for nothing—it will end in a festive way too.