History of Tom Jones, a Foundling

by Henry Fielding

  Chapter iii.

  Allworthy visits old Nightingale; with a strange discovery that hemade on that occasion.

  The morning after these things had happened, Mr Allworthy went,according to his promise, to visit old Nightingale, with whom hisauthority was so great, that, after having sat with him three hours,he at last prevailed with him to consent to see his son.

  Here an accident happened of a very extraordinary kind; one indeed ofthose strange chances whence very good and grave men have concludedthat Providence often interposes in the discovery of the most secretvillany, in order to caution men from quitting the paths of honesty,however warily they tread in those of vice.

  Mr Allworthy, at his entrance into Mr Nightingale's, saw Black George;he took no notice of him, nor did Black George imagine he hadperceived him.

  However, when their conversation on the principal point was over,Allworthy asked Nightingale, Whether he knew one George Seagrim, andupon what business he came to his house? "Yes," answered Nightingale,"I know him very well, and a most extraordinary fellow he is, who, inthese days, hath been able to hoard up L500 from renting a very smallestate of L30 a year." "And is this the story which he hath told you?"cries Allworthy. "Nay, it is true, I promise you," said Nightingale,"for I have the money now in my own hands, in five bank-bills, which Iam to lay out either in a mortgage, or in some purchase in the northof England." The bank-bills were no sooner produced at Allworthy'sdesire than he blessed himself at the strangeness of the discovery. Hepresently told Nightingale that these bank-bills were formerly his,and then acquainted him with the whole affair. As there are no men whocomplain more of the frauds of business than highwaymen, gamesters,and other thieves of that kind, so there are none who so bitterlyexclaim against the frauds of gamesters, &c., as usurers, brokers, andother thieves of this kind; whether it be that the one way of cheatingis a discountenance or reflection upon the other, or that money, whichis the common mistress of all cheats, makes them regard each other inthe light of rivals; but Nightingale no sooner heard the story than heexclaimed against the fellow in terms much severer than the justiceand honesty of Allworthy had bestowed on him.

  Allworthy desired Nightingale to retain both the money and the secrettill he should hear farther from him; and, if he should in themeantime see the fellow, that he would not take the least notice tohim of the discovery which he had made. He then returned to hislodgings, where he found Mrs Miller in a very dejected condition, onaccount of the information she had received from her son-in-law. MrAllworthy, with great chearfulness, told her that he had much goodnews to communicate; and, with little further preface, acquainted herthat he had brought Mr Nightingale to consent to see his son, and didnot in the least doubt to effect a perfect reconciliation betweenthem; though he found the father more sowered by another accident ofthe same kind which had happened in his family. He then mentioned therunning away of the uncle's daughter, which he had been told by theold gentleman, and which Mrs Miller and her son-in-law did not yetknow.

  The reader may suppose Mrs Miller received this account with greatthankfulness, and no less pleasure; but so uncommon was her friendshipto Jones, that I am not certain whether the uneasiness she sufferedfor his sake did not overbalance her satisfaction at hearing a pieceof news tending so much to the happiness of her own family; norwhether even this very news, as it reminded her of the obligations shehad to Jones, did not hurt as well as please her; when her gratefulheart said to her, "While my own family is happy, how miserable is thepoor creature to whose generosity we owe the beginning of all thishappiness!"

  Allworthy, having left her a little while to chew the cud (if I mayuse that expression) on these first tidings, told her he had stillsomething more to impart, which he believed would give her pleasure."I think," said he, "I have discovered a pretty considerable treasurebelonging to the young gentleman, your friend; but perhaps, indeed,his present situation may be such that it will be of no service tohim." The latter part of the speech gave Mrs Miller to understand whowas meant, and she answered with a sigh, "I hope not, sir." "I hope sotoo," cries Allworthy, "with all my heart; but my nephew told me thismorning he had heard a very bad account of the affair."----"GoodHeaven! sir," said she--"Well, I must not speak, and yet it iscertainly very hard to be obliged to hold one's tongue when onehears."--"Madam," said Allworthy, "you may say whatever you please,you know me too well to think I have a prejudice against any one; andas for that young man, I assure you I should be heartily pleased tofind he could acquit himself of everything, and particularly of thissad affair. You can testify the affection I have formerly borne him.The world, I know, censured me for loving him so much. I did notwithdraw that affection from him without thinking I had the justestcause. Believe me, Mrs Miller, I should be glad to find I have beenmistaken." Mrs Miller was going eagerly to reply, when a servantacquainted her that a gentleman without desired to speak with herimmediately. Allworthy then enquired for his nephew, and was told thathe had been for some time in his room with the gentleman who used tocome to him, and whom Mr Allworthy guessing rightly to be Mr Dowling,he desired presently to speak with him.

  When Dowling attended, Allworthy put the case of the bank-notes tohim, without mentioning any name, and asked in what manner such aperson might be punished. To which Dowling answered, "He thought hemight be indicted on the Black Act; but said, as it was a matter ofsome nicety, it would be proper to go to counsel. He said he was toattend counsel presently upon an affair of Mr Western's, and if MrAllworthy pleased he would lay the case before them." This was agreedto; and then Mrs Miller, opening the door, cried, "I ask pardon, I didnot know you had company;" but Allworthy desired her to come in,saying he had finished his business. Upon which Mr Dowling withdrew,and Mrs Miller introduced Mr Nightingale the younger, to return thanksfor the great kindness done him by Allworthy: but she had scarcepatience to let the young gentleman finish his speech before sheinterrupted him, saying, "O sir! Mr Nightingale brings great newsabout poor Mr Jones: he hath been to see the wounded gentleman, who isout of all danger of death, and, what is more, declares he fell uponpoor Mr Jones himself, and beat him. I am sure, sir, you would nothave Mr Jones be a coward. If I was a man myself, I am sure, if anyman was to strike me, I should draw my sword. Do pray, my dear, tellMr Allworthy, tell him all yourself." Nightingale then confirmed whatMrs Miller had said; and concluded with many handsome things of Jones,who was, he said, one of the best-natured fellows in the world, andnot in the least inclined to be quarrelsome. Here Nightingale wasgoing to cease, when Mrs Miller again begged him to relate all themany dutiful expressions he had heard him make use of towards MrAllworthy. "To say the utmost good of Mr Allworthy," criesNightingale, "is doing no more than strict justice, and can have nomerit in it: but indeed, I must say, no man can be more sensible ofthe obligations he hath to so good a man than is poor Jones. Indeed,sir, I am convinced the weight of your displeasure is the heaviestburthen he lies under. He hath often lamented it to me, and hath asoften protested in the most solemn manner he hath never beenintentionally guilty of any offence towards you; nay, he hath sworn hewould rather die a thousand deaths than he would have his conscienceupbraid him with one disrespectful, ungrateful, or undutiful thoughttowards you. But I ask pardon, sir, I am afraid I presume tointermeddle too far in so tender a point." "You have spoke no morethan what a Christian ought," cries Mrs Miller. "Indeed, MrNightingale," answered Allworthy, "I applaud your generous friendship,and I wish he may merit it of you. I confess I am glad to hear thereport you bring from this unfortunate gentleman; and, if that mattershould turn out to be as you represent it (and, indeed, I doubtnothing of what you say), I may, perhaps, in time, be brought to thinkbetter than lately I have of this young man; for this good gentlewomanhere, nay, all who know me, can witness that I loved him as dearly asif he had been my own son. Indeed, I have considered him as a childsent by fortune to my care. I still remember the innocent, thehelpless situation in which I found him. I feel the tender pressure ofhis little hands at this moment. He was my d
arling, indeed he was." Atwhich words he ceased, and the tears stood in his eyes.

  As the answer which Mrs Miller made may lead us into fresh matters, wewill here stop to account for the visible alteration in Mr Allworthy'smind, and the abatement of his anger to Jones. Revolutions of thiskind, it is true, do frequently occur in histories and dramaticwriters, for no other reason than because the history or play draws toa conclusion, and are justified by authority of authors; yet, thoughwe insist upon as much authority as any author whatever, we shall usethis power very sparingly, and never but when we are driven to it bynecessity, which we do not at present foresee will happen in thiswork.

  This alteration then in the mind of Mr Allworthy was occasioned by aletter he had just received from Mr Square, and which we shall givethe reader in the beginning of the next chapter.