In 1833, Tom Tulliver was sixteen.He was studying at the school.

It was a cold November day. Tom was alone in the school library. The door opened and Maggie came into the room. She was very beautiful.

'Maggie!' Tom said. 'Why are you here? Why are you not at your school?'

'Oh, Tom! Something terrible has happened,' said Maggie.

'What is it? Tell me, Maggie!' Tom said. 'Father has lost the law suit, Tom,' said Maggie. 'Father must pay for everything. He must pay our neighbour's lawyer - Mr Wakem.'

'Lost the law suit! Father must pay Wakem money!' Tom shouted.

Maggie started to cry. 'There is more bad news, Tom,' she said. 'Father has no money. He cannot pay Wakem. He will lose the mill, his land, everything. Mother cries all the time. And Father-' 'Is Father ill?' Tom asked.

'Father is very ill,' Maggie replied. 'He cannot walk. He has forgotten everything. Tom, you must come back to the mill!'

'I hate Wakem and I hate his son,' Tom said angrily. 'Never speak to Philip Wakem again, Maggie!'

Tom and Maggie went back to Dorlcote Mill. Mrs Tulliver was waiting for them.

'Oh, Tom!' she said. 'Wakem's men will take our furniture, our clothes, everything!'

The next day, Mr and Mrs Glegg came to the mill. Mrs Deane was with them.

'How is Mr Tulliver?' Mr Glegg asked. 'He has forgotten everything,' Mrs Tulliver replied. 'And he has lost everything. We have no money. We have nothing!'

'This is terrible news,' said Mrs Deane.

'There is no money to pay for education,' said Mrs Glegg. 'Tom must get a job. And Maggie must stay here. She must help her mother.'

Tom spoke to his aunts. 'Please lend me some money,' he said. 'I will get a job. I will pay the money back to you.'

'Your aunts cannot lend you any money,' said Mr Glegg. 'They need their money. They get interest on their money.'

The next day, Tom went to his Uncle Deane's office. Mr Deane worked for Guest and Company in St Ogg's.

'Uncle, please give me a job,' Tom said. 'How old are you, Tom?' Mr Deane asked. 'Sixteen - nearly seventeen,' Tom replied. 'You had a good education,' said Mr Deane. 'But Latin will not help you here.'

'I can learn other things,' said Tom. 'I will give you a job in the office,' said Mr Deane. 'But you must work hard.'

'Thank you, Uncle,' Tom said. He shook hands with his uncle and he left the office.

Outside the office, he saw a notice on the wall.

T o be sold

Dorlcote Mill

with house, land and furniture

Mr Tulliver was very ill. He stayed in his bed for two months. On a cold day in January, he came into the dining-room.

'Where is the furniture?' Mr Tulliver asked.

'Wakem's men took it,' Maggie said. 'They sold it. But here is your chair. Sit down, Father.'

'Then I have lost everything,' Mr Tulliver said.

'Yes, Father,' Tom replied. 'And we must pay Wakem three hundred pounds more. But I have a job. I will save my money. I will pay Wakem.'

'We will look after you, Father,' Maggie said.

Mrs Tulliver began to cry. 'Lawyer Wakem has bought the mill and the house,' she said.

'So we must leave the mill, Bessy,' Mr Tulliver replied sadly.

'No,' said Mrs Tulliver. 'You will work for Wakem. You will be the miller. We will stay here.'

At first, Mr Tulliver did not reply. Then he spoke.

'Tom, get the Bible!' he said.

'Yes, Father,' said Tom. He brought the Bible to his father.

'Write this,' said Mr Tulliver. ' "Edward Tulliver will work for Lawyer Wakem at Dorlcote Mill. But he will never forgive Wakem. He will always hate him."'

'Then write this, Tom,' said Mr Tulliver. '"Tom Tulliver will never forgive Lawyer Wakem. He will always hate Wakem and his family." Then write your name.'

'Oh no, Tom,' said Maggie. 'Do not write that!'

'Be quiet, Maggie!' Tom said. 'I want to write it. I will write it.'