The two reach a wary peace, however, especially when Maggie comes to visit, as Philip is greatly impressed with her intelligence and kind nature. Philip is overly sensitive but an apt pupil, so he also has a problem with the brutish miller's son. Tom is also disturbed by Philip’s physical deformity. Tulliver detests, so Tom is prepared to dislike him. After the Christmas holiday, though, Philip Wakem joins him at King's Lorton to learn from Mr. Tom finds the lessons largely unpleasant, as he is the only pupil and it is the kind of learning that he finds the most difficult. As will happen frequently throughout their lives, Tom coldly holds her carelessness against her for a little while before forgiving her. Maggie is a very bright girl with good intentions and a strong desire to please her brother, so this devastates her. When Tom gets home for the summer, he learns that his younger sister Maggie forgot to feed his rabbits and they have all died, so he is furious with her. Tulliver, owner of the mill and its farm, has decided to send his son, Tom, away to school so that he can become something more than a miller and farmer. The Mill on the Floss opens with the unnamed narrator dreaming of Dorlcote Mill as she or he knew it years ago.
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