The Mill on the Floss tells the tragic story of Maggie Tulliver, a miller's daughter, who lives in 19th century Lincolnshire. She cares deeply about her brother Tom, but the latter has his doubts about the way Maggie lives her life. Their well-mannered niece Lucy is good friends with both and acts as a peacemaker between the two. When they are older, the boy next door Phillip Wakem appears. Maggie is instantly attracted to him, much to the dismay of her brother and of Phillip's father, a great enemy of miller Tulliver.