History of Tom Jones, a Foundling

by Henry Fielding

  Chapter viii.

  Containing various matters.

  Before we return to Mr Jones, we will take one more view of Sophia.

  Though that young lady had brought her aunt into great good humour bythose soothing methods which we have before related, she had notbrought her in the least to abate of her zeal for the match with LordFellamar. This zeal was now inflamed by Lady Bellaston, who had toldher the preceding evening, that she was well satisfied from theconduct of Sophia, and from her carriage to his lordship, that alldelays would be dangerous, and that the only way to succeed was topress the match forward with such rapidity that the young lady shouldhave no time to reflect, and be obliged to consent while she scarceknew what she did; in which manner, she said, one-half of themarriages among people of condition were brought about. A fact veryprobably true, and to which, I suppose, is owing the mutual tendernesswhich afterwards exists among so many happy couples.

  A hint of the same kind was given by the same lady to Lord Fellamar;and both these so readily embraced the advice that the very next daywas, at his lordship's request, appointed by Mrs Western for a privateinterview between the young parties. This was communicated to Sophiaby her aunt, and insisted upon in such high terms, that, after havingurged everything she possibly could invent against it without theleast effect, she at last agreed to give the highest instance ofcomplacence which any young lady can give, and consented to see hislordship.

  As conversations of this kind afford no great entertainment, we shallbe excused from reciting the whole that past at this interview; inwhich, after his lordship had made many declarations of the most pureand ardent passion to the silent blushing Sophia, she at lastcollected all the spirits she could raise, and with a trembling lowvoice said, "My lord, you must be yourself conscious whether yourformer behaviour to me hath been consistent with the professions younow make." "Is there," answered he, "no way by which I can atone formadness? what I did I am afraid must have too plainly convinced you,that the violence of love had deprived me of my senses." "Indeed, mylord," said she, "it is in your power to give me a proof of anaffection which I much rather wish to encourage, and to which I shouldthink myself more beholden." "Name it, madam," said my lord, verywarmly. "My lord," says she, looking down upon her fan, "I know youmust be sensible how uneasy this pretended passion of yours hath mademe." "Can you be so cruel to call it pretended?" says he. "Yes, mylord," answered Sophia, "all professions of love to those whom wepersecute are most insulting pretences. This pursuit of yours is to mea most cruel persecution: nay, it is taking a most ungenerousadvantage of my unhappy situation." "Most lovely, most adorablecharmer, do not accuse me," cries he, "of taking an ungenerousadvantage, while I have no thoughts but what are directed to yourhonour and interest, and while I have no view, no hope, no ambition,but to throw myself, honour, fortune, everything at your feet." "Mylord," says she, "it is that fortune and those honours which gave youthe advantage of which I complain. These are the charms which haveseduced my relations, but to me they are things indifferent. If yourlordship will merit my gratitude, there is but one way." "Pardon me,divine creature," said he, "there can be none. All I can do for you isso much your due, and will give me so much pleasure, that there is noroom for your gratitude." "Indeed, my lord," answered she, "you mayobtain my gratitude, my good opinion, every kind thought and wishwhich it is in my power to bestow; nay, you may obtain them with ease,for sure to a generous mind it must be easy to grant my request. Letme beseech you, then, to cease a pursuit in which you can never haveany success. For your own sake as well as mine I entreat this favour;for sure you are too noble to have any pleasure in tormenting anunhappy creature. What can your lordship propose but uneasiness toyourself, by a perseverance, which, upon my honour, upon my soul,cannot, shall not prevail with me, whatever distresses you may driveme to." Here my lord fetched a deep sigh, and then said--"Is it then,madam, that I am so unhappy to be the object of your dislike andscorn; or will you pardon me if I suspect there is some other?" Herehe hesitated, and Sophia answered with some spirit, "My lord, I shallnot be accountable to you for the reasons of my conduct. I am obligedto your lordship for the generous offer you have made; I own it isbeyond either my deserts or expectations; yet I hope, my lord, youwill not insist on my reasons, when I declare I cannot accept it."Lord Fellamar returned much to this, which we do not perfectlyunderstand, and perhaps it could not all be strictly reconciled eitherto sense or grammar; but he concluded his ranting speech with saying,"That if she had pre-engaged herself to any gentleman, however unhappyit would make him, he should think himself bound in honour to desist."Perhaps my lord laid too much emphasis on the word gentleman; for wecannot else well account for the indignation with which he inspiredSophia, who, in her answer, seemed greatly to resent some affront hehad given her.

  While she was speaking, with her voice more raised than usual, MrsWestern came into the room, the fire glaring in her cheeks, and theflames bursting from her eyes. "I am ashamed," says she, "my lord, ofthe reception which you have met with. I assure your lordship we areall sensible of the honour done us; and I must tell you, Miss Western,the family expect a different behaviour from you." Here my lordinterfered on behalf of the young lady, but to no purpose; the auntproceeded till Sophia pulled out her handkerchief, threw herself intoa chair, and burst into a violent fit of tears.

  The remainder of the conversation between Mrs Western and hislordship, till the latter withdrew, consisted of bitter lamentationson his side, and on hers of the strongest assurances that her nieceshould and would consent to all he wished. "Indeed, my lord," saysshe, "the girl hath had a foolish education, neither adapted to herfortune nor her family. Her father, I am sorry to say it, is to blamefor everything. The girl hath silly country notions of bashfulness.Nothing else, my lord, upon my honour; I am convinced she hath a goodunderstanding at the bottom, and will be brought to reason."

  This last speech was made in the absence of Sophia; for she had sometime before left the room, with more appearance of passion than shehad ever shown on any occasion; and now his lordship, after manyexpressions of thanks to Mrs Western, many ardent professions ofpassion which nothing could conquer, and many assurances ofperseverance, which Mrs Western highly encouraged, took his leave forthis time.

  Before we relate what now passed between Mrs Western and Sophia, itmay be proper to mention an unfortunate accident which had happened,and which had occasioned the return of Mrs Western with so much fury,as we have seen.

  The reader then must know that the maid who at present attended onSophia was recommended by Lady Bellaston, with whom she had lived forsome time in the capacity of a comb-brush: she was a very sensiblegirl, and had received the strictest instructions to watch her younglady very carefully. These instructions, we are sorry to say, werecommunicated to her by Mrs Honour, into whose favour Lady Bellastonhad now so ingratiated herself, that the violent affection which thegood waiting-woman had formerly borne to Sophia was entirelyobliterated by that great attachment which she had to her newmistress.

  Now, when Mrs Miller was departed, Betty (for that was the name of thegirl), returning to her young lady, found her very attentively engagedin reading a long letter, and the visible emotions which she betrayedon that occasion might have well accounted for some suspicions whichthe girl entertained; but indeed they had yet a stronger foundation,for she had overheard the whole scene which passed between Sophia andMrs Miller.

  Mrs Western was acquainted with all this matter by Betty, who, afterreceiving many commendations and some rewards for her fidelity, wasordered, that, if the woman who brought the letter came again, sheshould introduce her to Mrs Western herself.

  Unluckily, Mrs Miller returned at the very time when Sophia wasengaged with his lordship. Betty, according to order, sent herdirectly to the aunt; who, being mistress of so many circumstancesrelating to what had past the day before, easily imposed upon the poorwoman to believe that Sophia had communicated the whole affair; and sopumped everything out of her which she knew rela
ting to the letter andrelating to Jones.

  This poor creature might, indeed, be called simplicity itself. She wasone of that order of mortals who are apt to believe everything whichis said to them; to whom nature hath neither indulged the offensivenor defensive weapons of deceit, and who are consequently liable to beimposed upon by any one who will only be at the expense of a littlefalshood for that purpose. Mrs Western, having drained Mrs Miller ofall she knew, which, indeed, was but little, but which was sufficientto make the aunt suspect a great deal, dismissed her with assurancesthat Sophia would not see her, that she would send no answer to theletter, nor ever receive another; nor did she suffer her to departwithout a handsome lecture on the merits of an office to which shecould afford no better name than that of procuress.--This discoveryhad greatly discomposed her temper, when, coming into the apartmentnext to that in which the lovers were, she overheard Sophia verywarmly protesting against his lordship's addresses. At which the ragealready kindled burst forth, and she rushed in upon her niece in amost furious manner, as we have already described, together with whatpast at that time till his lordship's departure.

  No sooner was Lord Fellamar gone than Mrs Western returned to Sophia,whom she upbraided in the most bitter terms for the ill use she hadmade of the confidence reposed in her; and for her treachery inconversing with a man with whom she had offered but the day before tobind herself in the most solemn oath never more to have anyconversation. Sophia protested she had maintained no suchconversation. "How, how! Miss Western," said the aunt; "will you denyyour receiving a letter from him yesterday?" "A letter, madam!"answered Sophia, somewhat surprized. "It is not very well bred, miss,"replies the aunt, "to repeat my words. I say a letter, and I insistupon your showing it me immediately." "I scorn a lie, madam," saidSophia; "I did receive a letter, but it was without my desire, and,indeed, I may say, against my consent." "Indeed, indeed, miss," criesthe aunt, "you ought to be ashamed of owning you had received it atall; but where is the letter? for I will see it."

  To this peremptory demand, Sophia paused some time before she returnedan answer; and at last only excused herself by declaring she had notthe letter in her pocket, which was, indeed, true; upon which heraunt, losing all manner of patience, asked her niece this shortquestion, whether she would resolve to marry Lord Fellamar, or no? towhich she received the strongest negative. Mrs Western then repliedwith an oath, or something very like one, that she would early thenext morning deliver her back into her father's hand.

  Sophia then began to reason with her aunt in the followingmanner:--"Why, madam, must I of necessity be forced to marry at all?Consider how cruel you would have thought it in your own case, and howmuch kinder your parents were in leaving you to your liberty. Whathave I done to forfeit this liberty? I will never marry contrary to myfather's consent, nor without asking yours----And when I ask theconsent of either improperly, it will be then time enough to forcesome other marriage upon me." "Can I bear to hear this," cries MrsWestern, "from a girl who hath now a letter from a murderer in herpocket?" "I have no such letter, I promise you," answered Sophia;"and, if he be a murderer, he will soon be in no condition to give youany further disturbance." "How, Miss Western!" said the aunt, "haveyou the assurance to speak of him in this manner; to own youraffection for such a villain to my face?" "Sure, madam," said Sophia,"you put a very strange construction on my words." "Indeed, MissWestern," cries the lady, "I shall not bear this usage; you havelearnt of your father this manner of treating me; he hath taught youto give me the lie. He hath totally ruined you by this false system ofeducation; and, please heaven, he shall have the comfort of itsfruits; for once more I declare to you, that to-morrow morning I willcarry you back. I will withdraw all my forces from the field, andremain henceforth, like the wise king of Prussia, in a state ofperfect neutrality. You are both too wise to be regulated by mymeasures; so prepare yourself, for to-morrow morning you shallevacuate this house."

  Sophia remonstrated all she could; but her aunt was deaf to all shesaid. In this resolution therefore we must at present leave her, asthere seems to be no hopes of bringing her to change it.