History of Tom Jones, a Foundling

  Chapter vi.

  Containing great variety of matter.

  The squire overtook his sister just as she was stepping into thecoach, and partly by force, and partly by solicitations, prevailedupon her to order her horses back into their quarters. He succeeded inthis attempt without much difficulty; for the lady was, as we havealready hinted, of a most placable disposition, and greatly loved herbrother, though she despised his parts, or rather his little knowledgeof the world.

  Poor Sophia, who had first set on foot this reconciliation, was nowmade the sacrifice to it. They both concurred in their censures on herconduct; jointly declared war against her, and directly proceeded tocounsel, how to carry it on in the most vigorous manner. For thispurpose, Mrs Western proposed not only an immediate conclusion of thetreaty with Allworthy, but as immediately to carry it into execution;saying, "That there was no other way to succeed with her niece, but byviolent methods, which she was convinced Sophia had not sufficientresolution to resist. By violent," says she, "I mean rather, hastymeasures; for as to confinement or absolute force, no such things mustor can be attempted. Our plan must be concerted for a surprize, andnot for a storm."

  These matters were resolved on, when Mr Blifil came to pay a visit tohis mistress. The squire no sooner heard of his arrival, than he steptaside, by his sister's advice, to give his daughter orders for theproper reception of her lover: which he did with the most bitterexecrations and denunciations of judgment on her refusal.

  The impetuosity of the squire bore down all before him; and Sophia, asher aunt very wisely foresaw, was not able to resist him. She agreed,therefore, to see Blifil, though she had scarce spirits or strengthsufficient to utter her assent. Indeed, to give a peremptory denial toa father whom she so tenderly loved, was no easy task. Had thiscircumstance been out of the case, much less resolution than what shewas really mistress of, would, perhaps, have served her; but it is nounusual thing to ascribe those actions entirely to fear, which are ina great measure produced by love.

  In pursuance, therefore, of her father's peremptory command, Sophianow admitted Mr Blifil's visit. Scenes like this, when painted atlarge, afford, as we have observed, very little entertainment to thereader. Here, therefore, we shall strictly adhere to a rule of Horace;by which writers are directed to pass over all those matters whichthey despair of placing in a shining light;--a rule, we conceive, ofexcellent use as well to the historian as to the poet; and which, iffollowed, must at least have this good effect, that many a great evil(for so all great books are called) would thus be reduced to a smallone.

  It is possible the great art used by Blifil at this interview wouldhave prevailed on Sophia to have made another man in his circumstancesher confident, and to have revealed the whole secret of her heart tohim; but she had contracted so ill an opinion of this young gentleman,that she was resolved to place no confidence in him; for simplicity,when set on its guard, is often a match for cunning. Her behaviour tohim, therefore, was entirely forced, and indeed such as is generallyprescribed to virgins upon the second formal visit from one who isappointed for their husband.

  But though Blifil declared himself to the squire perfectly satisfiedwith his reception; yet that gentleman, who, in company with hissister, had overheard all, was not so well pleased. He resolved, inpursuance of the advice of the sage lady, to push matters as forwardas possible; and addressing himself to his intended son-in-law in thehunting phrase, he cried, after a loud holla, "Follow her, boy, followher; run in, run in; that's it, honeys. Dead, dead, dead. Never bebashful, nor stand shall I, shall I? Allworthy and I can finish allmatters between us this afternoon, and let us ha' the weddingto-morrow."

  Blifil having conveyed the utmost satisfaction into his countenance,answered, "As there is nothing, sir, in this world which I so eagerlydesire as an alliance with your family, except my union with the mostamiable and deserving Sophia, you may easily imagine how impatient Imust be to see myself in possession of my two highest wishes. If Ihave not therefore importuned you on this head, you will impute itonly to my fear of offending the lady, by endeavouring to hurry on soblessed an event faster than a strict compliance with all the rules ofdecency and decorum will permit. But if, by your interest, sir, shemight be induced to dispense with any formalities--"

  "Formalities! with a pox!" answered the squire. "Pooh, all stuff andnonsense! I tell thee, she shall ha' thee to-morrow: you will know theworld better hereafter, when you come to my age. Women never gi' theirconsent, man, if they can help it, 'tis not the fashion. If I hadstayed for her mother's consent, I might have been a batchelor to thisday.--To her, to her, co to her, that's it, you jolly dog. I tell theeshat ha' her to-morrow morning."

  Blifil suffered himself to be overpowered by the forcible rhetoric ofthe squire; and it being agreed that Western should close withAllworthy that very afternoon, the lover departed home, having firstearnestly begged that no violence might be offered to the lady by thishaste, in the same manner as a popish inquisitor begs the lay power todo no violence to the heretic delivered over to it, and against whomthe church hath passed sentence.

  And, to say the truth, Blifil had passed sentence against Sophia; for,however pleased he had declared himself to Western with his reception,he was by no means satisfied, unless it was that he was convinced ofthe hatred and scorn of his mistress: and this had produced no lessreciprocal hatred and scorn in him. It may, perhaps, be asked, Whythen did he not put an immediate end to all further courtship? Ianswer, for that very reason, as well as for several others equallygood, which we shall now proceed to open to the reader.

  Though Mr Blifil was not of the complexion of Jones, nor ready to eatevery woman he saw; yet he was far from being destitute of thatappetite which is said to be the common property of all animals. Withthis, he had likewise that distinguishing taste, which serves todirect men in their choice of the object or food of their severalappetites; and this taught him to consider Sophia as a most deliciousmorsel, indeed to regard her with the same desires which an ortolaninspires into the soul of an epicure. Now the agonies which affectedthe mind of Sophia, rather augmented than impaired her beauty; for hertears added brightness to her eyes, and her breasts rose higher withher sighs. Indeed, no one hath seen beauty in its highest lustre whohath never seen it in distress. Blifil therefore looked on this humanortolan with greater desire than when he viewed her last; nor was hisdesire at all lessened by the aversion which he discovered in her tohimself. On the contrary, this served rather to heighten the pleasurehe proposed in rifling her charms, as it added triumph to lust; nay,he had some further views, from obtaining the absolute possession ofher person, which we detest too much even to mention; and revengeitself was not without its share in the gratifications which hepromised himself. The rivalling poor Jones, and supplanting him in heraffections, added another spur to his pursuit, and promised anotheradditional rapture to his enjoyment.

  Besides all these views, which to some scrupulous persons may seem tosavour too much of malevolence, he had one prospect, which few readerswill regard with any great abhorrence. And this was the estate of MrWestern; which was all to be settled on his daughter and her issue;for so extravagant was the affection of that fond parent, that,provided his child would but consent to be miserable with the husbandhe chose, he cared not at what price he purchased him.

  For these reasons Mr Blifil was so desirous of the match that heintended to deceive Sophia, by pretending love to her; and to deceiveher father and his own uncle, by pretending he was beloved by her. Indoing this he availed himself of the piety of Thwackum, who held, thatif the end proposed was religious (as surely matrimony is), itmattered not how wicked were the means. As to other occasions, he usedto apply the philosophy of Square, which taught, that the end wasimmaterial, so that the means were fair and consistent with moralrectitude. To say truth, there were few occurrences in life on whichhe could not draw advantage from the precepts of one or other of thosegreat masters.

  Little deceit was indeed necessary to be practised on Mr
Western; whothought the inclinations of his daughter of as little consequence asBlifil himself conceived them to be; but as the sentiments of MrAllworthy were of a very different kind, so it was absolutelynecessary to impose on him. In this, however, Blifil was so wellassisted by Western, that he succeeded without difficulty; for as MrAllworthy had been assured by her father that Sophia had a properaffection for Blifil, and that all which he had suspected concerningJones was entirely false, Blifil had nothing more to do than toconfirm these assertions; which he did with such equivocations, thathe preserved a salvo for his conscience; and had the satisfaction ofconveying a lie to his uncle, without the guilt of telling one. Whenhe was examined touching the inclinations of Sophia by Allworthy, whosaid, "He would on no account be accessary to forcing a young ladyinto a marriage contrary to her own will;" he answered, "That the realsentiments of young ladies were very difficult to be understood; thather behaviour to him was full as forward as he wished it, and that ifhe could believe her father, she had all the affection for him whichany lover could desire. As for Jones," said he, "whom I am loth tocall villain, though his behaviour to you, sir, sufficiently justifiesthe appellation, his own vanity, or perhaps some wicked views, mightmake him boast of a falsehood; for if there had been any reality inMiss Western's love to him, the greatness of her fortune would neverhave suffered him to desert her, as you are well informed he hath.Lastly, sir, I promise you I would not myself, for any consideration,no, not for the whole world, consent to marry this young lady, if Iwas not persuaded she had all the passion for me which I desire sheshould have."

  This excellent method of conveying a falsehood with the heart only,without making the tongue guilty of an untruth, by the means ofequivocation and imposture, hath quieted the conscience of many anotable deceiver; and yet, when we consider that it is Omniscience onwhich these endeavour to impose, it may possibly seem capable ofaffording only a very superficial comfort; and that this artful andrefined distinction between communicating a lie, and telling one, ishardly worth the pains it costs them.

  Allworthy was pretty well satisfied with what Mr Western and Mr Blifiltold him: and the treaty was now, at the end of two days, concluded.Nothing then remained previous to the office of the priest, but theoffice of the lawyers, which threatened to take up so much time, thatWestern offered to bind himself by all manner of covenants, ratherthan defer the happiness of the young couple. Indeed, he was so veryearnest and pressing, that an indifferent person might have concludedhe was more a principal in this match than he really was; but thiseagerness was natural to him on all occasions: and he conducted everyscheme he undertook in such a manner, as if the success of that alonewas sufficient to constitute the whole happiness of his life.

  The joint importunities of both father and son-in-law would probablyhave prevailed on Mr Allworthy, who brooked but ill any delay ofgiving happiness to others, had not Sophia herself prevented it, andtaken measures to put a final end to the whole treaty, and to rob bothchurch and law of those taxes which these wise bodies have thoughtproper to receive from the propagation of the human species in alawful manner. Of which in the next chapter.