Tom bore his punishment with great resolution; and
though his master asked him, between every stroke,
whether he would not confess, he was contented to
be flead rather than betray his friend, or break the
promise he had made.
The gamekeeper was now relieved from his anxiety,
and Mr Allworthy himself began to be concerned at
Tom’s sufferings: for besides that Mr Thwackum,
being highly enraged that he was not able to make the
boy say what he himself pleased, had carried his severity
much beyond the good man’s intention, this latter
began now to suspect that the squire had been mistaken;
which his extreme eagerness and anger seemed to make
probable; and as for what the servants had said in
confirmation of their master’s account, he laid
no great stress upon that. Now, as cruelty and
injustice were two ideas of which Mr Allworthy could
by no means support the consciousness a single moment,
he sent for Tom, and after many kind and friendly
exhortations, said, “I am convinced, my dear
child, that my suspicions have wronged you; I am sorry
that you have been so severely punished on this account.”
And at last gave him a little horse to make him amends;
again repeating his sorrow for what had past.
Tom’s guilt now flew in his face more than any
severity could make it. He could more easily
bear the lashes of Thwackum, than the generosity of
Allworthy. The tears burst from his eyes, and
he fell upon his knees, crying, “Oh, sir, you
are too good to me. Indeed you are. Indeed
I don’t deserve it.” And at that very
instant, from the fulness of his heart, had almost
betrayed the secret; but the good genius of the gamekeeper
suggested to him what might be the consequence to the
poor fellow, and this consideration sealed his lips.
Thwackum did all he could to persuade Allworthy from
showing any compassion or kindness to the boy, saying,
“He had persisted in an untruth;” and
gave some hints, that a second whipping might probably
bring the matter to light.
But Mr Allworthy absolutely refused to consent to
the experiment. He said, the boy had suffered
enough already for concealing the truth, even if he
was guilty, seeing that he could have no motive but
a mistaken point of honour for so doing.
“Honour!” cryed Thwackum, with some warmth,
“mere stubbornness and obstinacy! Can honour
teach any one to tell a lie, or can any honour exist
independent of religion?”
This discourse happened at table when dinner was just
ended; and there were present Mr Allworthy, Mr Thwackum,
and a third gentleman, who now entered into the debate,
and whom, before we proceed any further, we shall
briefly introduce to our reader’s acquaintance.
Chapter iii.
The character of Mr Square the philosopher, and of
Mr Thwackum the divine; with a dispute concerning——
