A Servant now acquainted them, that Mr. Western was below Stairs; for his Eagerness to see Jones could not wait till the Afternoon. Upon which Jones, whose Eyes were full of Tears, begged his Uncle to entertain Western a few Minutes, till he a little recovered himself: To which the good Man consented, and having ordered Mr. Western to be shewn into a Parlour, went down to him.
Mrs. Miller no sooner heard that Jones was alone, (for she had not seen him since his Release from Prison) than she came eagerly into the Room, and advancing towards Jones, wished him heartily Joy of his new-found Uncle, and his happy Reconciliation; adding, ‘I wish I could give you Joy on another Account, my dear Child; but any thing so inexorable I never saw.’ Jones, with some Appearance of Surprize, asked her what she meant. ‘Why then,’ says she, ‘I have been with your young Lady, and have explained all Matters to her, as they were told me by my Son Nightingale. She can have no longer any Doubt about the Letter; of that I am certain; for I told her my Son Nightingale was ready to take his Oath, if she pleased, that it was all his own Invention, and the Letter of his inditing. I told her the very Reason of sending the Letter ought to recommend you to her the more, as it was all upon her Account, and a plain Proof, that you was resolved to quit all your Profligacy for the future; that you had never been guilty of a single Instance of Infidelity to her since your seeing her in Town. I am afraid I went too far there; but Heaven forgive me: I hope your future Behaviour will be my Justification. I am sure I have said all I can; but all to no Purpose. She remains inflexible. She says, she had forgiven many Faults on account of Youth; but expressed such Detestation of the Character of a Libertine, that she absolutely silenced me. I often attempted to excuse you; but the Justness of her Accusation flew in my Face. Upon my Honour she is a lovely Woman, and one of the sweetest and most sensible Creatures I ever saw. I could have almost kissed her for one Expression she made use of. It was a Sentiment worthy of Seneca, or of a Bishop. “I once fancied, Madam,” said she, “I had discovered great Goodness of Heart in Mr. Jones; and for that I own I had a sincere Esteem: but an entire Profligacy of Manners will corrupt the best Heart in the World; and all which a good natured Libertine can expect, is, that we should mix some Grains of Pity with our Contempt and Abhorrence.” She is an angelic Creature, that is the Truth on’t.’—‘O Mrs. Miller,’ answered Jones, ‘can I bear to think I have lost such an Angel!’ ‘Lost! No,’ cries Mrs. Miller; ‘I hope you have not lost her yet. Resolve to leave such vicious Courses, and you may yet have Hopes: Nay, if she should remain inexorable, there is another young Lady, a sweet pretty young Lady, and a swinging Fortune, who is absolutely dying for Love of you. I heard of it this very Morning, and I told it to Miss Western; nay, I went a little beyond the Truth again; for I told her you had refused her; but indeed I knew you would refuse her.——And here I must give you a little Comfort: When I mentioned the young Lady’s Name, who is no other than the pretty Widow Hunt, I thought she turned pale; but when I said you had refused her, I will be sworn her Face was all over Scarlet in an Instant; and these were her very Words, “I will not deny but that I believe he has some Affection for me.”’
Here the Conversation was interrupted by the Arrival of Western, who could no longer be kept out of the Room even by the Authority of Allworthy himself; though this, as we have often seen, had a wonderful Power over him.
Western immediately went up to Jones, crying out, ‘My old Friend Tom, I am glad to see thee with all my Heart. All past must be forgotten. I could not intend any Affront to thee, because, as Allworthy here knows, nay, dost know it thyself, I took thee for another Person; and where a Body means no Harm, what signifies a hasty Word or two? one Christian must forget and forgive another.’ ‘I hope, Sir,’ said Jones, ‘I shall never forget the many Obligations I have had to you; but as for any Offence towards me, I declare I am an utter Stranger.’——‘A’t,’ says Western, ‘then give me thy Fist, a’t as hearty an honest Cock as any in the Kingdom. Come along with me; I’ll carry thee to thy Mistress this Moment.’ Here Allworthy interposed; and the Squire being unable to prevail either with the Uncle or Nephew, was, after some Litigation, obliged to consent to delay introducing Jones to Sophia till the Afternoon; at which Time Allworthy, as well in Compassion to Jones, as in Compliance with the eager Desires of Western, was prevailed upon to promise to attend at the Tea-table.
The Conversation which now ensued was pleasant enough; and with which, had it happened earlier in our History, we would have entertained our Reader; but as we have now Leisure only to attend to what is very material, it shall suffice to say, that Matters being entirely adjusted as to the Afternoon-visit, Mr. Western again returned home.
CHAPTER XI.
The History draws nearer to a Conclusion.
When Mr. Western was departed, Jones began to inform Mr. Allworthy and Mrs. Miller, that his Liberty had been procured by two noble Lords, who, together with two Surgeons, and a Friend of Mr. Nightingale’s had attended the Magistrate by whom he had been committed, and by whom, on the Surgeons Oaths, that the wounded Person was out of all Manner of Danger from his Wound, he was discharged.
One only of these Lords, he said, he had ever seen before, and that no more than once; but the other had greatly surprized him, by asking his Pardon for an Offence he had been guilty of towards him, occasioned, he said, entirely by his Ignorance who he was.
Now the Reality of the Case with which Jones was not acquainted till afterwards, was this. The Lieutenant whom Lord Fellamar had employed, according to the Advice of Lady Bellaston, to press Jones, as a Vagabond, into the Sea Service, when he came to report to his Lordship the Event which we have before seen, spoke very favourably of the Behaviour of Mr. Jones on all Accounts, and strongly assured that Lord, that he must have mistaken the Person; for that Jones was certainly a Gentleman: inso-much that his Lordship, who was strictly a Man of Honour, and would by no Means have been guilty of an Action which the World in general would have condemned, began to be much concerned for the Advice which he had taken.
Within a Day or two after this, Lord Fellamar happened to dine with the Irish Peer, who, in a Conversation upon the Duel, acquainted his Company with the Character of Fitzpatrick; to which indeed he did not do strict Justice, especially in what related to his Lady. He said, she was the most innocent, the most injured Woman alive, and that from Compassion alone he had undertaken her Cause. He then declared an Intention of going the next Morning to Fitzpatrick’s Lodgings, in order to prevail with him, if possible, to consent to a Separation from his Wife, who, the Peer said, was in Apprehensions for her Life, if she should ever return to be under the Power of her Husband. Lord Fellamar agreed to go with him, that he might satisfy himself more concerning Jones, and the Circumstances of the Duel; for he was by no Means easy concerning the Part he had acted. The Moment his Lordship gave a Hint of his Readiness to assist in the Delivery of the Lady, it was eagerly embraced by the other Nobleman, who depended much on the Authority of Lord Fellamar, as he thought it would greatly contribute to awe Fitzpatrick into a Compliance; and perhaps he was in the right; for the poor Irishman no sooner saw these noble Peers had undertaken the Cause of his Wife, than he submitted, and Articles of Separation were soon drawn up, and signed between the Parties.
Fitzpatrick had been so well satisfied by Mrs. Waters concerning the Innocence of his Wife with Jones at Upton, or perhaps from some other Reasons, was now become so indifferent to that Matter, that he spoke highly in Favour of Jones, to Lord Fellamar, took all the Blame upon himself, and said the other had behaved very much like a Gentleman, and a Man of Honour; and upon that Lord’s further Enquiry concerning Mr. Jones, Fitzpatrick told him he was Nephew to a Gentleman of very great Fashion and Fortune, which was the Account he had just received from Mrs. Waters, after her Interview with Dowling.
Lord Fellamar now thought it behoved him to do every Thing in his Power to make Satisfaction to a Gentleman whom he had so grosly injured, and without any Consideration of Rivalship, (for he had
now given over all Thoughts of Sophia) determined to procure Mr. Jones’s Liberty, being satisfied as well from Fitzpatrick as his Surgeon, that the Wound was not mortal. He therefore prevailed with the Irish Peer to accompany him to the Place where Jones was confined, to whom he behaved as we have already related.
When Allworthy returned to his Lodgings, he immediately carried Jones into his Room, and then acquainted him with the whole Matter, as well what he had heard from Mrs. Waters, as what he had discovered from Mr. Dowling.
Jones expressed great Astonishment, and no less Concern at this Account; but without making any Comment or Observation upon it. And now a Message was brought from Mr. Blifil, desiring to know if his Uncle was at Leisure, that he might wait upon him. Allworthy started and turned pale, and then in a more passionate Tone than I believe he had ever used before, bid the Servant tell Blifil, he knew him not. ‘Consider, dear Sir,’—cries Jones, in a trembling Voice.——‘I have considered,’ answered Allworthy, ‘and you yourself shall carry my Message to the Villain.—No one can carry him the Sentence of his own Ruin so properly, as the Man whose Ruin he hath so villainously contrived.’——‘Pardon me, dear Sir,’ said Jones; ‘a Moment’s Reflection will, I am sure, convince you of the contrary. What might perhaps be but Justice from another Tongue would from mine be Insult; and to whom?— My own Brother, and your Nephew.—Nor did he use me so barbarously.—Indeed that would have been more inexcusable than any Thing he hath done. Fortune may tempt Men of no very bad Dispositions to Injustice; but Insults proceed only from black and rancorous Minds, and have no Temptations to excuse them.— Let me beseech you, Sir, to do nothing by him in the present Height of your Anger. Consider, my dear Uncle, I was not myself condemned unheard.’ Allworthy stood silent a Moment, and then embracing Jones, he said with Tears gushing from his Eyes, ‘O my Child! to what Goodness have I been so long blind!’
Mrs. Miller entring the Room at that Moment, after a gentle Rap, which was not perceived, and seeing Jones in the Arms of his Uncle, the poor Woman, in an Agony of Joy, fell upon her Knees, and burst forth into the most ecstatic Thanksgivings to Heaven, for what had happened.—Then running to Jones, she embraced him eagerly, crying, ‘My dearest Friend, I wish you Joy a thousand and a thousand Times of this blest Day;’ and next Mr. Allworthy himself received the same Congratulations. To which he answered, ‘Indeed, indeed, Mrs. Miller, I am beyond Expression happy.’ Some few more Raptures having passed on all Sides, Mrs. Miller desired them both to walk down to Dinner in the Parlour, where she said there were a very happy Set of People assembled; being indeed no other than Mr. Nightingale and his Bride, and his Cousin Harriet with her Bridegroom.
Allworthy excused himself from dining with the Company, saying he had ordered some little Thing for him and his Nephew in his own Apartment; for that they had much private Business to discourse of, but would not resist promising the good Woman, that both he and Jones would make Part of her Society at Supper.
Mrs. Miller then asked what was to be done with Blifil, ‘for indeed, says she, I cannot be easy while such a Villain is in my House.’— Allworthy answered, ‘He was as uneasy as herself on the same Account.’ ‘O!’ cries she, ‘if that be the Case, leave the Matter to me; I’ll soon shew him the Outside of my Doors, I warrant you. Here are two or three lusty Fellows below Stairs.’ ‘There will be no Need of any Violence, cries Allworthy; if you will carry him a Message from me, he will, I am convinced, depart of his own Accord.’ ‘Will I?’ said Mrs. Miller, ‘I never did any Thing in my Life with a better Will.’ Here Jones interfered, and said, ‘He had considered the Matter better, and would, if Mr. Allworthy pleased, be himself the Messenger. I know, says he, already enough of your Pleasure, Sir, and I beg Leave to acquaint him with it by my own Words. Let me beseech you, Sir, added he, to reflect on the dreadful Consequences of driving him to violent and sudden Despair. How unfit, alas! is this poor Man to die in his present Situation.’ This Suggestion had not the least Effect on Mrs. Miller. She left the Room crying, ‘You are too good, Mr. Jones, infinitely too good to live in this World.’ But it made a deeper Impression on Allworthy. ‘My good Child, said he, I am equally astonished at the Goodness of your Heart and the Quickness of your Understanding. Heaven indeed forbid that this Wretch should be deprived of any Means or Time for Repentance. That would be a shocking Consideration indeed. Go to him therefore and use your own Discretion; yet do not flatter him with any Hopes of my Forgiveness; for I shall never forgive Villainy farther than my Religion obliges me, and that extends not either to our Bounty or our Conversation.’
Jones went up to Blifil’s Room, whom he found in a Situation which moved his Pity, though it would have raised a less amiable Passion in many Beholders. He had cast himself on his Bed, where he lay abandoning himself to Despair, and drowned in Tears; not in such Tears as flow from Contrition, and wash away Guilt from Minds which have been seduced or surprized into it unawares, against the Bent of their natural Dispositions, as will sometimes happen from human Frailty, even to the Good: No, these Tears were such as the frighted Thief sheds in his Cart,1 and are indeed the Effects of that Concern which the most savage Natures are seldom deficient in feeling for themselves.
It would be unpleasant and tedious to paint this Scene in full Length. Let it suffice to say, that the Behaviour of Jones was kind to Excess. He omitted nothing which his Invention could supply, to raise and comfort the drooping Spirits of Blifil, before he communicated to him the Resolution of his Uncle, that he must quit the House that Evening. He offered to furnish him with any Money he wanted, assured him of his hearty Forgiveness of all he had done against him, that he would endeavour to live with him hereafter as a Brother, and would leave nothing unattempted to effectuate a Reconciliation with his Uncle.
Blifil was at first sullen and silent, balancing in his Mind whether he should yet deny all: But finding at last the Evidence too strong against him, he betook himself at last to Confession. He then asked Pardon of his Brother in the most vehement Manner, prostrated himself on the Ground, and kissed his Feet: In short, he was now as remarkably mean, as he had been before remarkably wicked.
Jones could not so far check his Disdain, but that it a little discovered itself in his Countenance at this extreme Servility. He raised his Brother the Moment he could from the Ground, and advised him to bear his Afflictions more like a Man; repeating, at the same Time, his Promises, that he would do all in his Power to lessen them: For which Blifil making many Professions of his Unworthiness, poured forth a Profusion of Thanks: And then he having declared he would immediately depart to another Lodging, Jones returned to his Uncle.
Among other Matters, Allworthy now acquainted Jones with the Discovery which he made concerning the five 100 l. Bank-Notes. ‘I have,’ said he, ‘already consulted a Lawyer, who tells me, to my great Astonishment, that there is no Punishment for a Fraud of this Kind. Indeed, when I consider the black Ingratitude of this Fellow toward you, I think a Highwayman, compared to him, is an innocent Person.’
‘Good Heaven!’ says Jones, ‘is it possible?——I am shocked beyond Measure at this News. I thought there was not an honester Fellow in the World.—The Temptation of such a Sum was too great for him to withstand; for smaller Matters have come safe to me through his Hand. Indeed, my dear Uncle, you must suffer me to call it Weakness rather than Ingratitude; for I am convinced the poor Fellow loves me, and hath done me some Kindnesses, which I can never forget; nay, I believe he hath repented of this very Act: For it is not above a Day or two ago, when my Affairs seemed in the most desperate Situation, that he visited me in my Confinement, and offered me any Money I wanted. Consider, Sir, what a Temptation to a Man who hath tasted such bitter Distress, it must be to have a Sum in his Possession, which must put him and his Family beyond any future Possibility of suffering the like.’
‘Child,’ cries Allworthy, ‘you carry this forgiving Temper too far. Such mistaken Mercy is not only Weakness but borders on Injustice, and is very pernicious to Society, as
it encourages Vice.2 The Dishonesty of this Fellow I might perhaps have pardoned, but never his Ingratitude. And give me Leave to say, when we suffer any Temptation to attone for Dishonesty itself, we are as candid and merciful as we ought to be; and so far I confess I have gone; for I have often pitied the Fate of a Highwayman, when I have been on the Grand Jury; and have more than once applied to the Judge on the Behalf of such as have had any mitigating Circumstances in their Case; but when Dishonesty is attended with any blacker Crime, such as Cruelty, Murder, Ingratitude, or the like, Compassion and Forgiveness then become Faults. I am convinced the Fellow is a Villain, and he shall be punished; at least as far as I can punish him.’
This was spoke with so stern a Voice, that Jones did not think proper to make any Reply: Besides, the Hour appointed by Mr. Western now drew so near, that he had barely Time left to dress himself. Here therefore ended the present Dialogue, and Jones retired to another Room, where Partridge attended, according to Order, with his Cloaths.
Partridge had scarce seen his Master since the happy Discovery. The poor Fellow was unable either to contain or express his Transports. He behaved like one frantic, and made almost as many Mistakes while he was dressing Jones, as I have seen made by Harlequin3 in dressing himself on the Stage.
His Memory, however, was not in the least deficient. He recollected now many Omens and Presages of this happy Event, some of which he had remarked at the Time, but many more he now remembered; nor did he omit the Dreams he had dreamt the Evening before his meeting with Jones; and concluded with saying, ‘I always told your Honour something boded in my Mind, that you would one Time or other have it in your Power to make my Fortune.’ Jones assured him, that this Boding should as certainly be verified with regard to him, as all the other Omens had been to himself; which did not a little add to all the Raptures which the poor Fellow had already conceived on account of his Master.
The History of Tom Jones (Penguin Classics) Page 109