Chapter v.
Containing matter accommodated to every taste.
"Parva leves capiunt animos--Small things affect light minds," was thesentiment of a great master of the passion of love. And certain it is,that from this day Sophia began to have some little kindness for TomJones, and no little aversion for his companion.
Many accidents from time to time improved both these passions in herbreast; which, without our recounting, the reader may well conclude,from what we have before hinted of the different tempers of theselads, and how much the one suited with her own inclinations more thanthe other. To say the truth, Sophia, when very young, discerned thatTom, though an idle, thoughtless, rattling rascal, was nobody's enemybut his own; and that Master Blifil, though a prudent, discreet, soberyoung gentleman, was at the same time strongly attached to theinterest only of one single person; and who that single person was thereader will be able to divine without any assistance of ours.
These two characters are not always received in the world with thedifferent regard which seems severally due to either; and which onewould imagine mankind, from self-interest, should show towards them.But perhaps there may be a political reason for it: in finding one ofa truly benevolent disposition, men may very reasonably suppose theyhave found a treasure, and be desirous of keeping it, like all othergood things, to themselves. Hence they may imagine, that to trumpetforth the praises of such a person, would, in the vulgar phrase, becrying Roast-meat, and calling in partakers of what they intend toapply solely to their own use. If this reason does not satisfy thereader, I know no other means of accounting for the little respectwhich I have commonly seen paid to a character which really does greathonour to human nature, and is productive of the highest good tosociety. But it was otherwise with Sophia. She honoured Tom Jones, andscorned Master Blifil, almost as soon as she knew the meaning of thosetwo words.
Sophia had been absent upwards of three years with her aunt; duringall which time she had seldom seen either of these young gentlemen.She dined, however, once, together with her aunt, at Mr Allworthy's.This was a few days after the adventure of the partridge, beforecommemorated. Sophia heard the whole story at table, where she saidnothing: nor indeed could her aunt get many words from her as shereturned home; but her maid, when undressing her, happening to say,"Well, miss, I suppose you have seen young Master Blifil to-day?" sheanswered with much passion, "I hate the name of Master Blifil, as I dowhatever is base and treacherous: and I wonder Mr Allworthy wouldsuffer that old barbarous schoolmaster to punish a poor boy so cruellyfor what was only the effect of his good-nature." She then recountedthe story to her maid, and concluded with saying, "Don't you think heis a boy of noble spirit?"
This young lady was now returned to her father; who gave her thecommand of his house, and placed her at the upper end of his table,where Tom (who for his great love of hunting was become a greatfavourite of the squire) often dined. Young men of open, generousdispositions are naturally inclined to gallantry, which, if they havegood understandings, as was in reality Tom's case, exerts itself in anobliging complacent behaviour to all women in general. This greatlydistinguished Tom from the boisterous brutality of mere countrysquires on the one hand, and from the solemn and somewhat sullendeportment of Master Blifil on the other; and he began now, at twenty,to have the name of a pretty fellow among all the women in theneighbourhood.
Tom behaved to Sophia with no particularity, unless perhaps by showingher a higher respect than he paid to any other. This distinction herbeauty, fortune, sense, and amiable carriage, seemed to demand; but asto design upon her person he had none; for which we shall at presentsuffer the reader to condemn him of stupidity; but perhaps we shall beable indifferently well to account for it hereafter.
Sophia, with the highest degree of innocence and modesty, had aremarkable sprightliness in her temper. This was so greatly increasedwhenever she was in company with Tom, that had he not been very youngand thoughtless, he must have observed it: or had not Mr Western'sthoughts been generally either in the field, the stable, or thedog-kennel, it might have perhaps created some jealousy in him: but sofar was the good gentleman from entertaining any such suspicions, thathe gave Tom every opportunity with his daughter which any lover couldhave wished; and this Tom innocently improved to better advantage, byfollowing only the dictates of his natural gallantry and good-nature,than he might perhaps have done had he had the deepest designs on theyoung lady.
But indeed it can occasion little wonder that this matter escaped theobservation of others, since poor Sophia herself never remarked it;and her heart was irretrievably lost before she suspected it was indanger.
Matters were in this situation, when Tom, one afternoon, findingSophia alone, began, after a short apology, with a very serious face,to acquaint her that he had a favour to ask of her which he hoped hergoodness would comply with.
Though neither the young man's behaviour, nor indeed his manner ofopening this business, were such as could give her any just cause ofsuspecting he intended to make love to her; yet whether Naturewhispered something into her ear, or from what cause it arose I willnot determine; certain it is, some idea of that kind must haveintruded itself; for her colour forsook her cheeks, her limbstrembled, and her tongue would have faltered, had Tom stopped for ananswer; but he soon relieved her from her perplexity, by proceeding toinform her of his request; which was to solicit her interest on behalfof the gamekeeper, whose own ruin, and that of a large family, mustbe, he said, the consequence of Mr Western's pursuing his actionagainst him.
Sophia presently recovered her confusion, and, with a smile full ofsweetness, said, "Is this the mighty favour you asked with so muchgravity? I will do it with all my heart. I really pity the poorfellow, and no longer ago than yesterday sent a small matter to hiswife." This small matter was one of her gowns, some linen, and tenshillings in money, of which Tom had heard, and it had, in reality,put this solicitation into his head.
Our youth, now, emboldened with his success, resolved to push thematter farther, and ventured even to beg her recommendation of him toher father's service; protesting that he thought him one of thehonestest fellows in the country, and extremely well qualified for theplace of a gamekeeper, which luckily then happened to be vacant.
Sophia answered, "Well, I will undertake this too; but I cannotpromise you as much success as in the former part, which I assure youI will not quit my father without obtaining. However, I will do what Ican for the poor fellow; for I sincerely look upon him and his familyas objects of great compassion. And now, Mr Jones, I must ask you afavour."
"A favour, madam!" cries Tom: "if you knew the pleasure you have givenme in the hopes of receiving a command from you, you would think bymentioning it you did confer the greatest favour on me; for by thisdear hand I would sacrifice my life to oblige you."
He then snatched her hand, and eagerly kissed it, which was the firsttime his lips had ever touched her. The blood, which before hadforsaken her cheeks, now made her sufficient amends, by rushing allover her face and neck with such violence, that they became all of ascarlet colour. She now first felt a sensation to which she had beenbefore a stranger, and which, when she had leisure to reflect on it,began to acquaint her with some secrets, which the reader, if he dothnot already guess them, will know in due time.
Sophia, as soon as she could speak (which was not instantly), informedhim that the favour she had to desire of him was, not to lead herfather through so many dangers in hunting; for that, from what she hadheard, she was terribly frightened every time they went out together,and expected some day or other to see her father brought home withbroken limbs. She therefore begged him, for her sake, to be morecautious; and as he well knew Mr Western would follow him, not to rideso madly, nor to take those dangerous leaps for the future.
Tom promised faithfully to obey her commands; and after thanking herfor her kind compliance with his request, took his leave, and departedhighly charmed with his success.
Poor Sophia was charmed too, but in a v
ery different way. Hersensations, however, the reader's heart (if he or she have any) willbetter represent than I can, if I had as many mouths as ever poetwished for, to eat, I suppose, those many dainties with which he wasso plentifully provided.
It was Mr Western's custom every afternoon, as soon as he was drunk,to hear his daughter play on the harpsichord; for he was a great loverof music, and perhaps, had he lived in town, might have passed for aconnoisseur; for he always excepted against the finest compositions ofMr Handel. He never relished any music but what was light and airy;and indeed his most favourite tunes were Old Sir Simon the King, StGeorge he was for England, Bobbing Joan, and some others.
His daughter, though she was a perfect mistress of music, and wouldnever willingly have played any but Handel's, was so devoted to herfather's pleasure, that she learnt all those tunes to oblige him.However, she would now and then endeavour to lead him into her owntaste; and when he required the repetition of his ballads, wouldanswer with a "Nay, dear sir;" and would often beg him to suffer herto play something else.
This evening, however, when the gentleman was retired from his bottle,she played all his favourites three times over without anysolicitation. This so pleased the good squire, that he started fromhis couch, gave his daughter a kiss, and swore her hand was greatlyimproved. She took this opportunity to execute her promise to Tom; inwhich she succeeded so well, that the squire declared, if she wouldgive him t'other bout of Old Sir Simon, he would give the gamekeeperhis deputation the next morning. Sir Simon was played again and again,till the charms of the music soothed Mr Western to sleep. In themorning Sophia did not fail to remind him of his engagement; and hisattorney was immediately sent for, ordered to stop any furtherproceedings in the action, and to make out the deputation.
Tom's success in this affair soon began to ring over the country, andvarious were the censures passed upon it; some greatly applauding itas an act of good nature; others sneering, and saying, "No wonder thatone idle fellow should love another." Young Blifil was greatly enragedat it. He had long hated Black George in the same proportion as Jonesdelighted in him; not from any offence which he had ever received, butfrom his great love to religion and virtue;--for Black George had thereputation of a loose kind of a fellow. Blifil therefore representedthis as flying in Mr Allworthy's face; and declared, with greatconcern, that it was impossible to find any other motive for doinggood to such a wretch.
Thwackum and Square likewise sung to the same tune. They were now(especially the latter) become greatly jealous of young Jones with thewidow; for he now approached the age of twenty, was really a fineyoung fellow, and that lady, by her encouragements to him, seemeddaily more and more to think him so.
Allworthy was not, however, moved with their malice. He declaredhimself very well satisfied with what Jones had done. He said theperseverance and integrity of his friendship was highly commendable,and he wished he could see more frequent instances of that virtue.
But Fortune, who seldom greatly relishes such sparks as my friend Tom,perhaps because they do not pay more ardent addresses to her, gave nowa very different turn to all his actions, and showed them to MrAllworthy in a light far less agreeable than that gentleman's goodnesshad hitherto seen them in.