Chapter vii.
A picture of formal courtship in miniature, as it always ought to bedrawn, and a scene of a tenderer kind painted at full length.
It was well remarked by one (and perhaps by more), that misfortunes donot come single. This wise maxim was now verified by Sophia, who wasnot only disappointed of seeing the man she loved, but had thevexation of being obliged to dress herself out, in order to receive avisit from the man she hated.
That afternoon Mr Western, for the first time, acquainted his daughterwith his intention; telling her, he knew very well that she had heardit before from her aunt. Sophia looked very grave upon this, nor couldshe prevent a few pearls from stealing into her eyes. "Come, come,"says Western, "none of your maidenish airs; I know all; I assure yousister hath told me all."
"Is it possible," says Sophia, "that my aunt can have betrayed mealready?"--"Ay, ay," says Western; "betrayed you! ay. Why, youbetrayed yourself yesterday at dinner. You showed your fancy veryplainly, I think. But you young girls never know what you would be at.So you cry because I am going to marry you to the man you are in lovewith! Your mother, I remember, whimpered and whined just in the samemanner; but it was all over within twenty-four hours after we weremarried: Mr Blifil is a brisk young man, and will soon put an end toyour squeamishness. Come, chear up, chear up; I expect un everyminute."
Sophia was now convinced that her aunt had behaved honourably to her:and she determined to go through that disagreeable afternoon with asmuch resolution as possible, and without giving the least suspicion inthe world to her father.
Mr Blifil soon arrived; and Mr Western soon after withdrawing, leftthe young couple together.
Here a long silence of near a quarter of an hour ensued; for thegentleman who was to begin the conversation had all the unbecomingmodesty which consists in bashfulness. He often attempted to speak,and as often suppressed his words just at the very point of utterance.At last out they broke in a torrent of far-fetched and high-strainedcompliments, which were answered on her side by downcast looks, halfbows, and civil monosyllables. Blifil, from his inexperience in theways of women, and from his conceit of himself, took this behaviourfor a modest assent to his courtship; and when, to shorten a scenewhich she could no longer support, Sophia rose up and left the room,he imputed that, too, merely to bashfulness, and comforted himselfthat he should soon have enough of her company.
He was indeed perfectly well satisfied with his prospect of success;for as to that entire and absolute possession of the heart of hismistress which romantic lovers require, the very idea of it neverentered his head. Her fortune and her person were the sole objects ofhis wishes, of which he made no doubt soon to obtain the absoluteproperty; as Mr Western's mind was so earnestly bent on the match; andas he well knew the strict obedience which Sophia was always ready topay to her father's will, and the greater still which her father wouldexact, if there was occasion. This authority, therefore, together withthe charms which he fancied in his own person and conversation, couldnot fail, he thought, of succeeding with a young lady, whoseinclinations were, he doubted not, entirely disengaged.
Of Jones he certainly had not even the least jealousy; and I haveoften thought it wonderful that he had not. Perhaps he imagined thecharacter which Jones bore all over the country (how justly, let thereader determine), of being one of the wildest fellows in England,might render him odious to a lady of the most exemplary modesty.Perhaps his suspicions might be laid asleep by the behaviour ofSophia, and of Jones himself, when they were all in company together.Lastly, and indeed principally, he was well assured there was notanother self in the case. He fancied that he knew Jones to the bottom,and had in reality a great contempt for his understanding, for notbeing more attached to his own interest. He had no apprehension thatJones was in love with Sophia; and as for any lucrative motives, heimagined they would sway very little with so silly a fellow. Blifil,moreover, thought the affair of Molly Seagrim still went on, andindeed believed it would end in marriage; for Jones really loved himfrom his childhood, and had kept no secret from him, till hisbehaviour on the sickness of Mr Allworthy had entirely alienated hisheart; and it was by means of the quarrel which had ensued on thisoccasion, and which was not yet reconciled, that Mr Blifil knewnothing of the alteration which had happened in the affection whichJones had formerly borne towards Molly.
From these reasons, therefore, Mr Blifil saw no bar to his successwith Sophia. He concluded her behaviour was like that of all otheryoung ladies on a first visit from a lover, and it had indeed entirelyanswered his expectations.
Mr Western took care to way-lay the lover at his exit from hismistress. He found him so elevated with his success, so enamoured withhis daughter, and so satisfied with her reception of him, that the oldgentleman began to caper and dance about his hall, and by many otherantic actions to express the extravagance of his joy; for he had notthe least command over any of his passions; and that which had at anytime the ascendant in his mind hurried him to the wildest excesses.
As soon as Blifil was departed, which was not till after many heartykisses and embraces bestowed on him by Western, the good squire wentinstantly in quest of his daughter, whom he no sooner found than hepoured forth the most extravagant raptures, bidding her chuse whatclothes and jewels she pleased; and declaring that he had no other usefor fortune but to make her happy. He then caressed her again andagain with the utmost profusion of fondness, called her by the mostendearing names, and protested she was his only joy on earth.
Sophia perceiving her father in this fit of affection, which she didnot absolutely know the reason of (for fits of fondness were notunusual to him, though this was rather more violent than ordinary),thought she should never have a better opportunity of disclosingherself than at present, as far at least as regarded Mr Blifil; andshe too well foresaw the necessity which she should soon be under ofcoming to a full explanation. After having thanked the squire,therefore, for all his professions of kindness, she added, with a lookfull of inexpressible softness, "And is it possible my papa can be sogood to place all his joy in his Sophy's happiness?" which Westernhaving confirmed by a great oath, and a kiss; she then laid hold ofhis hand, and, falling on her knees, after many warm and passionatedeclarations of affection and duty, she begged him "not to make herthe most miserable creature on earth by forcing her to marry a manwhom she detested. This I entreat of you, dear sir," said she, "foryour sake, as well as my own, since you are so very kind to tell meyour happiness depends on mine."--"How! what!" says Western, staringwildly. "Oh! sir," continued she, "not only your poor Sophy'shappiness; her very life, her being, depends upon your granting herrequest. I cannot live with Mr Blifil. To force me into this marriagewould be killing me."--"You can't live with Mr Blifil?" says Western."No, upon my soul I can't," answered Sophia. "Then die and be d--d,"cries he, spurning her from him. "Oh! sir," cries Sophia, catchinghold of the skirt of his coat, "take pity on me, I beseech you. Don'tlook and say such cruel--Can you be unmoved while you see your Sophyin this dreadful condition? Can the best of fathers break my heart?Will he kill me by the most painful, cruel, lingering death?"--"Pooh!pooh!" cries the squire; "all stuff and nonsense; all maidenishtricks. Kill you, indeed! Will marriage kill you?"--"Oh! sir,"answered Sophia, "such a marriage is worse than death. He is not evenindifferent; I hate and detest him."--"If you detest un never somuch," cries Western, "you shall ha'un." This he bound by an oath tooshocking to repeat; and after many violent asseverations, concluded inthese words: "I am resolved upon the match, and unless you consent toit I will not give you a groat, not a single farthing; no, though Isaw you expiring with famine in the street, I would not relieve youwith a morsel of bread. This is my fixed resolution, and so I leaveyou to consider on it." He then broke from her with such violence,that her face dashed against the floor; and he burst directly out ofthe room, leaving poor Sophia prostrate on the ground.
When Western came into the hall, he there found Jones; who seeing hisfriend looking wild, pale, and almost breathless, could no
t forbearenquiring the reason of all these melancholy appearances. Upon whichthe squire immediately acquainted him with the whole matter,concluding with bitter denunciations against Sophia, and very patheticlamentations of the misery of all fathers who are so unfortunate tohave daughters.
Jones, to whom all the resolutions which had been taken in favour ofBlifil were yet a secret, was at first almost struck dead with thisrelation; but recovering his spirits a little, mere despair, as heafterwards said, inspired him to mention a matter to Mr Western, whichseemed to require more impudence than a human forehead was ever giftedwith. He desired leave to go to Sophia, that he might endeavour toobtain her concurrence with her father's inclinations.
If the squire had been as quicksighted as he was remarkable for thecontrary, passion might at present very well have blinded him. Hethanked Jones for offering to undertake the office, and said, "Go, go,prithee, try what canst do;" and then swore many execrable oaths thathe would turn her out of doors unless she consented to the match.