History of Tom Jones, a Foundling

by Henry Fielding

  Chapter x.

  A chapter which, though short, may draw tears from some eyes.

  Mr Jones was just dressed to wait on Lady Bellaston, when Mrs Millerrapped at his door; and, being admitted, very earnestly desired hiscompany below-stairs, to drink tea in the parlour.

  Upon his entrance into the room, she presently introduced a person tohim, saying, "This, sir, is my cousin, who hath been so greatlybeholden to your goodness, for which he begs to return you hissincerest thanks."

  The man had scarce entered upon that speech which Mrs Miller had sokindly prefaced, when both Jones and he, looking stedfastly at eachother, showed at once the utmost tokens of surprize. The voice of thelatter began instantly to faulter; and, instead of finishing hisspeech, he sunk down into a chair, crying, "It is so, I am convincedit is so!"

  "Bless me! what's the meaning of this?" cries Mrs Miller; "you are notill, I hope, cousin? Some water, a dram this instant."

  "Be not frighted, madam," cries Jones, "I have almost as much need ofa dram as your cousin. We are equally surprized at this unexpectedmeeting. Your cousin is an acquaintance of mine, Mrs Miller."

  "An acquaintance!" cries the man.--"Oh, heaven!"

  "Ay, an acquaintance," repeated Jones, "and an honoured acquaintancetoo. When I do not love and honour the man who dares ventureeverything to preserve his wife and children from instant destruction,may I have a friend capable of disowning me in adversity!"

  "Oh, you are an excellent young man," cries Mrs Miller:--"Yes, indeed,poor creature! he hath ventured everything.--If he had not had one ofthe best of constitutions, it must have killed him."

  "Cousin," cries the man, who had now pretty well recovered himself,"this is the angel from heaven whom I meant. This is he to whom,before I saw you, I owed the preservation of my Peggy. He it was towhose generosity every comfort, every support which I have procuredfor her, was owing. He is, indeed, the worthiest, bravest, noblest; ofall human beings. O cousin, I have obligations to this gentleman ofsuch a nature!"

  "Mention nothing of obligations," cries Jones eagerly; "not a word, Iinsist upon it, not a word" (meaning, I suppose, that he would nothave him betray the affair of the robbery to any person). "If, by thetrifle you have received from me, I have preserved a whole family,sure pleasure was never bought so cheap."

  "Oh, sir!" cries the man, "I wish you could this instant see my house.If any person had ever a right to the pleasure you mention, I amconvinced it is yourself. My cousin tells me she acquainted you withthe distress in which she found us. That, sir, is all greatly removed,and chiefly by your goodness.----My children have now a bed to lieon----and they have----they have----eternal blessings reward you forit!----they have bread to eat. My little boy is recovered; my wife isout of danger, and I am happy. All, all owing to you, sir, and to mycousin here, one of the best of women. Indeed, sir, I must see you atmy house.--Indeed my wife must see you, and thank you.--My childrentoo must express their gratitude.----Indeed, sir, they are not withouta sense of their obligation; but what is my feeling when I reflect towhom I owe that they are now capable of expressing theirgratitude.----Oh, sir, the little hearts which you have warmed had nowbeen cold as ice without your assistance."

  Here Jones attempted to prevent the poor man from proceeding; butindeed the overflowing of his own heart would of itself have stoppedhis words. And now Mrs Miller likewise began to pour forththanksgivings, as well in her own name, as in that of her cousin, andconcluded with saying, "She doubted not but such goodness would meet aglorious reward."

  Jones answered, "He had been sufficiently rewarded already. Yourcousin's account, madam," said he, "hath given me a sensation morepleasing than I have ever known. He must be a wretch who is unmoved athearing such a story; how transporting then must be the thought ofhaving happily acted a part in this scene! If there are men who cannotfeel the delight of giving happiness to others, I sincerely pity them,as they are incapable of tasting what is, in my opinion, a greaterhonour, a higher interest, and a sweeter pleasure than the ambitious,the avaricious, or the voluptuous man can ever obtain."

  The hour of appointment being now come, Jones was forced to take ahasty leave, but not before he had heartily shaken his friend by thehand, and desired to see him again as soon as possible; promising thathe would himself take the first opportunity of visiting him at his ownhouse. He then stept into his chair, and proceeded to LadyBellaston's, greatly exulting in the happiness which he had procuredto this poor family; nor could he forbear reflecting, without horror,on the dreadful consequences which must have attended them, had helistened rather to the voice of strict justice than to that of mercy,when he was attacked on the high road.

  Mrs Miller sung forth the praises of Jones during the whole evening,in which Mr Anderson, while he stayed, so passionately accompaniedher, that he was often on the very point of mentioning thecircumstance of the robbery. However, he luckily recollected himself,and avoided an indiscretion which would have been so much the greater,as he knew Mrs Miller to be extremely strict and nice in herprinciples. He was likewise well apprized of the loquacity of thislady; and yet such was his gratitude, that it had almost got thebetter both of discretion and shame, and made him publish that whichwould have defamed his own character, rather than omit anycircumstances which might do the fullest honour to his benefactor.