Book 6: Chapter 12 Summary

The sale of the mill to Guest and Company is final, and the family holds a celebration. Maggie is staying with her Aunt Pullet for a short time, so she is there when the party is held. The aunts don't approve of Maggie's plan to work for a living. Lucy tries to persuade Tom to accept a relationship between Maggie and Philip, but to no effect. He holds himself to be bound by his duty to his father's memory and could never accept a marriage between Maggie and Philip Wakem.

Book 6: Chapter 12 Analysis

The aunts find something to approve of at last in Tom's success, but they still disapprove of Maggie. They don't care whether she needs to work; they are only concerned about what people will say about their family. The benevolent Lucy is still trying to make things work...