History of Tom Jones, a Foundling

by Henry Fielding

  Chapter iv.

  Containing sundry curious matters.

  As soon as Mr Allworthy returned home, he took Mr Blifil apart, andafter some preface, communicated to him the proposal which had beenmade by Mr Western, and at the same time informed him how agreeablethis match would be to himself.

  The charms of Sophia had not made the least impression on Blifil; notthat his heart was pre-engaged; neither was he totally insensible ofbeauty, or had any aversion to women; but his appetites were by natureso moderate, that he was able, by philosophy, or by study, or by someother method, easily to subdue them: and as to that passion which wehave treated of in the first chapter of this book, he had not theleast tincture of it in his whole composition.

  But though he was so entirely free from that mixed passion, of whichwe there treated, and of which the virtues and beauty of Sophia formedso notable an object; yet was he altogether as well furnished withsome other passions, that promised themselves very full gratificationin the young lady's fortune. Such were avarice and ambition, whichdivided the dominion of his mind between them. He had more than onceconsidered the possession of this fortune as a very desirable thing,and had entertained some distant views concerning it; but his ownyouth, and that of the young lady, and indeed principally a reflectionthat Mr Western might marry again, and have more children, hadrestrained him from too hasty or eager a pursuit.

  This last and most material objection was now in great measureremoved, as the proposal came from Mr Western himself. Blifil,therefore, after a very short hesitation, answered Mr Allworthy, thatmatrimony was a subject on which he had not yet thought; but that hewas so sensible of his friendly and fatherly care, that he should inall things submit himself to his pleasure.

  Allworthy was naturally a man of spirit, and his present gravity arosefrom true wisdom and philosophy, not from any original phlegm in hisdisposition; for he had possessed much fire in his youth, and hadmarried a beautiful woman for love. He was not therefore greatlypleased with this cold answer of his nephew; nor could he helplaunching forth into the praises of Sophia, and expressing some wonderthat the heart of a young man could be impregnable to the force ofsuch charms, unless it was guarded by some prior affection.

  Blifil assured him he had no such guard; and then proceeded todiscourse so wisely and religiously on love and marriage, that hewould have stopt the mouth of a parent much less devoutly inclinedthan was his uncle. In the end, the good man was satisfied that hisnephew, far from having any objections to Sophia, had that esteem forher, which in sober and virtuous minds is the sure foundation offriendship and love. And as he doubted not but the lover would, in alittle time, become altogether as agreeable to his mistress, heforesaw great happiness arising to all parties by so proper anddesirable an union. With Mr Blifil's consent therefore he wrote thenext morning to Mr Western, acquainting him that his nephew had verythankfully and gladly received the proposal, and would be ready towait on the young lady, whenever she should be pleased to accept hisvisit.

  Western was much pleased with this letter, and immediately returned ananswer; in which, without having mentioned a word to his daughter, heappointed that very afternoon for opening the scene of courtship.

  As soon as he had dispatched this messenger, he went in quest of hissister, whom he found reading and expounding the _Gazette_ to parsonSupple. To this exposition he was obliged to attend near a quarter ofan hour, though with great violence to his natural impetuosity, beforehe was suffered to speak. At length, however, he found an opportunityof acquainting the lady, that he had business of great consequence toimpart to her; to which she answered, "Brother, I am entirely at yourservice. Things look so well in the north, that I was never in abetter humour."

  The parson then withdrawing, Western acquainted her with all which hadpassed, and desired her to communicate the affair to Sophia, which shereadily and chearfully undertook; though perhaps her brother was alittle obliged to that agreeable northern aspect which had sodelighted her, that he heard no comment on his proceedings; for theywere certainly somewhat too hasty and violent.