CHAP. VI.

IT is to be known then, that those two learned Per∣sonages, who have lately made a considerable Fi∣gure Page  119 on the Theatre of this History, had from their ••rst Arrival at Mr. Allworthy's House, taken so great •n Affection, the one to his Virtue, the other to his Religion, that they had meditated the closest Alliance with him.

For this Purpose they had cast their Eyes on that •air Widow, whom, tho' we have not for some Time made any mention of her, the Reader, we trust, hath not forgot. Mrs. Blifil was indeed the Object to which they both aspired.

It may seem remarkable that of four Persons whom we have commemorated at Mr. Allworthy's House; three of them should fix their Inclinations on a La∣dy who was never greatly celebrated for her Beauty, and who was, moreover, now a little descended in∣to the Vale of Years; but in reality, Bosom Friends, and intimate Acquaintance, have a kind of natural Pro∣pensity to particular Females at the House of a Friend; viz. to his Grand-mother, Mother, Sister, Daugh∣ter, Aunt, Neice and Cousin, when they are rich, and to his Wife, Sister, Daughter, Neice, Cousin, Mistress or Servant Maid, if they should be hand∣some.

We would not, however, have our Reader ima∣gine, that Persons of such Characters as were support∣ed by Thwackum and Square, would undertake a Matter of this Kind, which hath been a little censured by some rigid Moralists, before they had thoroughly examined it, and considered whether it was (as Shakespear phrases it) 'Stuff, o' th' Conscience' or no. Thwackum was encouraged to the Undertaking, by reflecting, that to court your Neighbour's Sister is no where forbidden, and he knew it was a Rule in the Construction of all Laws, that "Expressum facit cessare Tacitum," the Sense of which is, 'When a Law-giver sets down plainly his whole Meaning, we are prevent∣ed from making him mean what we please our∣selves.' As some Instances of Women, there∣fore, Page  120 are mentioned in the divine Law, which for∣bids us to covet our Neighbours Goods, and that of a Sister omitted, he concluded it to be lawful. And as to Square, who was in his Person what is called a jolly Fellow, or a Widow's Man, he easily recon∣ciled his Choice to the eternal Fitness of Things.

Now, as both these Gentlemen were industrious in taking every Opportunity of recommending them∣selves to the Widow, they apprehended one certain Method was, by giving her Son the constant Prefe∣rence to the other Lad; and as they conceived the Kindness and Affection which Mr. Allworthy shewed the latter, must be highly disagreeable to her, they doubted not but the laying hold on all Occasions to degrade and villify him, would be highly pleasing to her; who, as she hated the Boy, must love all those who did him any hurt. In this Thwackum had the Advantage; for while Square could only scarify the poor Lad's Reputation, he could flea his Skin; and indeed he considered every Lash he gave him as a Compliment paid to his Mistress; so that he could with the utmost Propriety repeat this old flogging Line, "Castigo te non quod odio habeam, sed quod AMEM; I chastise thee not out of Hatred, but out of Love." And this indeed he often had in his Mouth, or rather, according to the old Phrase, never more properly applied, at his Fingers Ends.

For this Reason principally, the two Gentlemen concurred, as we have seen above, in their Opinion concerning the two Lads; this being indeed almost the only Instance of their concurring on any Point: For besides the Difference of their Principles, they had both long ago strongly suspected each others De∣sign, and hated one another with no little Degree of Inveteracy.

This mutual Animosity was a good deal increased by their alternate Successes: For Mrs. Blifil knew what they would be at long before they imagined it; Page  121 or indeed intended she should: For they proceeded with great Caution lest she should be offended, and ac∣quaint Mr. Allworthy; but they had no Reason for any such Fear. She was well enough pleased with a Passion of which she intended none should have any Fruits but herself. And the only Fruits she designed for herself were Flattery and Courtship; for which Purpose, she soothed them by Turns, and a long Time equally. She was indeed rather inclined to favour the Parson's Principles; but Square's Person was more agreeable to her Eye; for he was a comely Man; whereas the Pedagogue did in Countenance very nearly resemble that Gentleman, who in the Harlot's Progress is seen correcting the Ladies in Bridewel.

Whether Mrs. Blifil had been surfeited with the Sweets of Marriage, or disgusted by its Bitters, or from what other Cause it proceeded, I will not de∣termine; but she could never be brought to listen to any second Proposals. However, she at last convers∣ed with Square, with such a Degree of Intimacy, that malicious Tongues began to whisper Things of her, to which, as well for the Sake of the Lady, as that they were highly disagreeable to the Rule of Right, and the Fitness of Things, we will give no Credit; and therefore shall not blot our Paper with them. The Pedagogue, 'tis certain, whipt on without get∣ting a Step nearer to his Journey's End.

Indeed he had committed a great Error, and that Square discovered much sooner than himself. Mrs. Blifl (as perhaps the Readers may have formerly guess'd) was not over and above pleased with the Be∣haviour of her Husband; nay to be honest, she abso∣lutely hated him, till his Death at last a little reconciled him to her Affections. It will not be therefore great∣ly wondered at, if she had not the most violent Re∣gard to the Offspring she had by him. And, in fact, he had so little of this Regard, that in his Infancy she Page  122 seldom saw her Son, or took any Notice of him; and hence she acquiesced, after a little Reluctance, in all the Favours which Mr. Allworthy showered on the Foundling; whom the good Man called his own Boy, and in all Things put on an intire Equality with Master Blifil. This Acquiescence in Mrs. Blifil was considered by the Neighbours, and by the Family, as a Mark of her Condescension to her Brother's Hu∣mour, and she was imagined by all others, as well as Thwackum and Square, to hate the Foundling in her Heart; nay, the more Civility she shewed him, the more they conceived she detested him, and the surer Schemes she was laying for his Ruin: For as they thought it her Interest to hate him, it was very diffi∣cul for her to perswade them she did not.

Thwackum was the more confirmed in his Opinion, as she had more than once caused him to whip Tom Jones, when Mr. Allworthy, who was an Enemy to this Exercise, was abroad; whereas she had never given any such Orders concerning young Blifil. And this had likewise imposed upon Square. In reality, though she certainly hated her own Son; of which, however monstrous it appears, I am assured she is not a singular Instance, she appeared, notwithstand∣ing all her outward Compliance, to be in her Heart sufficiently displeased with all the Favour shewn by Mr. Allworthy to the Foundling. She frequently com∣plained of this behind her Brother's Back, and very sharply censured him for it, both to Thwackum and Square; nay, she would throw it in the Teeth of Allworthy himself, when a little Quarrel or Miff, as it is vulgarly called, arose between them.

However, when Tom grew up, and gave Tokens of that Gallantry of Temper which greatly recom∣mends Men to Women, this Disinclination which she had discovered to him when a Child, by Degrees abated, and at last she so evidently demonstrated her Affection to him to be much stronger than what she Page  123 bore her own Son, that it was impossible to mistake her any longer. She was so desirous of often seeing him, and discovered such Satisfaction and Delight in his Company, that before he was eighteen Years old, he was become a Rival to both Square and Thwackum; and what is worse, the whole Country began to talk as loudly of her Inclination to Tom, as they had be∣fore done of that which she had shewn to Square; on which Account the Philosopher conceived the most •mplacable Hatred for our poor Hero.