History of Tom Jones, a Foundling

  Chapter iv.

  Which consists of visiting.

  Mr Jones had walked within sight of a certain door during the wholeday, which, though one of the shortest, appeared to him to be one ofthe longest in the whole year. At length, the clock having struckfive, he returned to Mrs Fitzpatrick, who, though it was a full hourearlier than the decent time of visiting, received him very civilly;but still persisted in her ignorance concerning Sophia.

  Jones, in asking for his angel, had dropped the word cousin, uponwhich Mrs Fitzpatrick said, "Then, sir, you know we are related: and,as we are, you will permit me the right of enquiring into theparticulars of your business with my cousin." Here Jones hesitated agood while, and at last answered, "He had a considerable sum of moneyof hers in his hands, which he desired to deliver to her." He thenproduced the pocket-book, and acquainted Mrs Fitzpatrick with thecontents, and with the method in which they came into his hands. Hehad scarce finished his story, when a most violent noise shook thewhole house. To attempt to describe this noise to those who have heardit would be in vain; and to aim at giving any idea of it to those whohave never heard the like, would be still more vain: for it may betruly said--

  _--Non acuta Sic geminant Corybantes aera._

  The priests of Cybele do not so rattle their sounding brass.

  In short, a footman knocked, or rather thundered, at the door. Joneswas a little surprized at the sound, having never heard it before; butMrs Fitzpatrick very calmly said, that, as some company were coming,she could not make him any answer now; but if he pleased to stay tillthey were gone, she intimated she had something to say to him.

  The door of the room now flew open, and, after pushing in her hoopsideways before her, entered Lady Bellaston, who having first made avery low courtesy to Mrs Fitzpatrick, and as low a one to Mr Jones,was ushered to the upper end of the room.

  We mention these minute matters for the sake of some country ladies ofour acquaintance, who think it contrary to the rules of modesty tobend their knees to a man.

  The company were hardly well settled, before the arrival of the peerlately mentioned, caused a fresh disturbance, and a repetition ofceremonials.

  These being over, the conversation began to be (as the phrase is)extremely brilliant. However, as nothing past in it which can bethought material to this history, or, indeed, very material in itself,I shall omit the relation; the rather, as I have known some very finepolite conversation grow extremely dull, when transcribed into books,or repeated on the stage. Indeed, this mental repast is a dainty, ofwhich those who are excluded from polite assemblies must be contentedto remain as ignorant as they must of the several dainties of Frenchcookery, which are served only at the tables of the great. To say thetruth, as neither of these are adapted to every taste, they might bothbe often thrown away on the vulgar.

  Poor Jones was rather a spectator of this elegant scene, than an actorin it; for though, in the short interval before the peer's arrival,Lady Bellaston first, and afterwards Mrs Fitzpatrick, had addressedsome of their discourse to him; yet no sooner was the noble lordentered, than he engrossed the whole attention of the two ladies tohimself; and as he took no more notice of Jones than if no such personhad been present, unless by now and then staring at him, the ladiesfollowed his example.

  The company had now staid so long, that Mrs Fitzpatrick plainlyperceived they all designed to stay out each other. She thereforeresolved to rid herself of Jones, he being the visitant to whom shethought the least ceremony was due. Taking therefore an opportunity ofa cessation of chat, she addressed herself gravely to him, and said,"Sir, I shall not possibly be able to give you an answer to-night asto that business; but if you please to leave word where I may send toyou to-morrow---"

  Jones had natural, but not artificial good-breeding. Instead thereforeof communicating the secret of his lodgings to a servant, heacquainted the lady herself with it particularly, and soon after veryceremoniously withdrew.

  He was no sooner gone than the great personages, who had taken nonotice of him present, began to take much notice of him in hisabsence; but if the reader hath already excused us from relating themore brilliant part of this conversation, he will surely be very readyto excuse the repetition of what may be called vulgar abuse; though,perhaps, it may be material to our history to mention an observationof Lady Bellaston, who took her leave in a few minutes after him, andthen said to Mrs Fitzpatrick, at her departure, "I am satisfied on theaccount of my cousin; she can be in no danger from this fellow."

  Our history shall follow the example of Lady Bellaston, and take leaveof the present company, which was now reduced to two persons; betweenwhom, as nothing passed, which in the least concerns us or our reader,we shall not suffer ourselves to be diverted by it from matters whichmust seem of more consequence to all those who are at all interestedin the affairs of our heroe.