his affection in the most ample manner. She had
preserved the most inviolable duty to him in all things;
and this her love made not only easy, but so delightful,
that when one of her companions laughed at her for
placing so much merit in such scrupulous obedience,
as that young lady called it, Sophia answered, “You
mistake me, madam, if you think I value myself upon
this account; for besides that I am barely discharging
my duty, I am likewise pleasing myself. I can
truly say I have no delight equal to that of contributing
to my father’s happiness; and if I value myself,
my dear, it is on having this power, and not on executing
it.”
This was a satisfaction, however, which poor Sophia
was incapable of tasting this evening. She therefore
not only desired to be excused from her attendance
at the harpsichord, but likewise begged that he would
suffer her to absent herself from supper. To this
request likewise the squire agreed, though not without
some reluctance; for he scarce ever permitted her
to be out of his sight, unless when he was engaged
with his horses, dogs, or bottle. Nevertheless
he yielded to the desire of his daughter, though the
poor man was at the same time obliged to avoid his
own company (if I may so express myself), by sending
for a neighbouring farmer to sit with him.
The narrow escape of Molly Seagrim, with some observations
for which we have been forced to dive pretty deep
into nature.
Tom Jones had ridden one of Mr Western’s horses
that morning in the chase; so that having no horse
of his own in the squire’s stable, he was obliged
to go home on foot: this he did so expeditiously
that he ran upwards of three miles within the half-hour.
Just as he arrived at Mr Allworthy’s outward
gate, he met the constable and company with Molly
in their possession, whom they were conducting to
that house where the inferior sort of people may learn
one good lesson, viz., respect and deference to
their superiors; since it must show them the wide
distinction Fortune intends between those persons
who are to be corrected for their faults, and those
who are not; which lesson if they do not learn, I
am afraid they very rarely learn any other good lesson,
or improve their morals, at the house of correction.
A lawyer may perhaps think Mr Allworthy exceeded his
authority a little in this instance. And, to
say the truth, I question, as here was no regular
information before him, whether his conduct was strictly
regular. However, as his intention was truly upright,
he ought to be excused in foro conscientiae;
since so many arbitrary acts are daily committed by
magistrates who have not this excuse to plead for
themselves.
