Book 7: Chapter 1 Summary

Tom is furious; he says that she has used Philip Wakem as a screen to deceive Lucy and has been carrying on a clandestine affair with Stephen. She tries to explain, but he will not listen. She wants to come home, but he will not have it, so her mother goes with her. Before they go, Tom gives his mother money and tells her she will always be welcome to come back home. They go to Bob Jakin's house and take up the rooms that Tom had occupied before he moved back to the mill. Bob had seen Maggie and Stephen disembark at Mudport and had come home and told Tom about it. She is the subject of gossip on the part of everyone in St. Ogg's, even "grooms and errand-boys."

Nevertheless, Bob takes them in without knowing the whole story...