The History of Tom Jones (Penguin Classics) Page 9

  It will not be wondered at, that a Creature, who had so strict a Regard to Decency in her own Person, should be shocked at the least Deviation from it in another. She therefore no sooner opened the Door, and saw her Master standing by the Bed-side in his Shirt, with a Candle in his Hand, than she started back in a most terrible Fright, and might perhaps have swooned away, had he not now recollected his being undrest, and put an End to her Terrors, by desiring her to stay without the Door, till he had thrown some Cloaths over his Back, and was become incapable of shocking the pure Eyes of Mrs.3Deborah Wilkins, who, tho’ in the 52d Year of her Age, vowed she had never beheld a Man without his Coat. Sneerers and prophane Wits may perhaps laugh at her first Fright; yet my graver Reader, when he considers the Time of Night, the Summons from her Bed, and the Situation in which she found her Master, will highly justify and applaud her Conduct; unless the Prudence, which must be supposed to attend Maidens at that Period of Life at which Mrs. Deborah had arrived, should a little lessen his Admiration.

  When Mrs. Deborah returned into the Room, and was acquainted by her Master with the finding the little Infant, her Consternation was rather greater than his had been; nor could she refrain from crying out, with great Horror of Accent as well as Look, ‘My good Sir! what’s to be done?’ Mr. Allworthy answered, She must take Care of the Child that Evening, and in the Morning he would give Orders to provide it a Nurse. ‘Yes, Sir,’ says she, ‘and I hope your Worship will send out your Warrant to take up the Hussy its Mother (for she must be one of the Neighbourhood) and I should be glad to see her committed to Bridewel,4 and whipt at the Cart’s Tail. Indeed such wicked Sluts cannot be too severely punished. I’ll warrant ’tis not her first, by her Impudence in laying it to your Worship.’ ‘In laying it to me! Deborah,’ answered Allworthy, ‘I can’t think she hath any such Design. I suppose she hath only taken this Method to provide for her Child; and truly I am glad she hath not done worse.’ ‘I don’t know what is worse,’ cries Deborah, ‘than for such wicked Strumpets to lay their Sins at honest Mens Doors; and though your Worship knows your own Innocence, yet the World is censorious; and it hath been many an honest Man’s Hap to pass for the Father of Children he never begot; and if your Worship should provide for the Child, it may make the People the apter to believe: Besides, why should your Worship provide for what the Parish is obliged to maintain?5 For my own Part, if it was an honest Man’s Child indeed; but for my own Part, it goes against me to touch these misbegotten Wretches, whom I don’t look upon as my fellow Creatures. Faugh, how it stinks! It doth not smell like a Christian. If I might be so bold to give my Advice, I would have it put in a Basket, and sent out and laid at the Church-Warden’s Door. It is a good Night, only a little rainy and windy; and if it was well wrapt up, and put in a warm Basket, it is two to one but it lives, till it is found in the Morning. But if it should not, we have discharged our Duty in taking proper Care of it; and it is, perhaps, better for such Creatures to die in a State of Innocence, than to grow up and imitate their Mothers; for nothing better can be expected of them.’

  There were some Strokes in this Speech which, perhaps, would have offended Mr. Allworthy, had he strictly attended to it; but he had now got one of his Fingers into the Infant’s Hand, which, by its gentle Pressure, seeming to implore his Assistance, had certainly out-pleaded the Eloquence of Mrs. Deborah, had it been ten times greater than it was. He now gave Mrs. Deborah positive Orders to take the Child to her own Bed, and to call up a Maid-servant to provide it Pap, and other Things against it waked. He likewise ordered that proper Cloaths should be procured for it early in the Morning, and that it should be brought to himself as soon as he was stirring.

  Such was the Discernment of Mrs. Wilkins, and such the Respect she bore her Master, under whom she enjoyed a most excellent Place, that her Scruples gave Way to his peremptory Commands; and she took the Child under her Arms, without any apparent Disgust at the Illegality of its Birth; and declaring it was a sweet little Infant, walked off with it to her own Chamber.

  Allworthy here betook himself to those pleasing Slumbers which a Heart that hungers after Goodness is apt to enjoy when thoroughly satisfied: As these are possibly sweeter than what are occasioned by any other hearty Meal, I should take more Pains to display them to the Reader, if I knew any Air to recommend him to for the procuring such an Appetite.

  CHAPTER IV.

  The Reader’s Neck brought into Danger by a

  Description; his Escape, and the great Condescension

  of Miss Bridget Allworthy.

  The Gothic Stile of Building could produce nothing nobler than Mr. Allworthy’s House. There was an Air of Grandeur in it, that struck you with Awe, and rival’d the Beauties of the best Grecian Architecture; and it was as commodious within, as venerable without.

  It stood on the South-east Side of a Hill, but nearer the Bottom than the Top of it, so as to be sheltered from the North-east by a Grove of old Oaks, which rose above it in a gradual Ascent of near half a Mile, and yet high enough to enjoy a most charming Prospect of the Valley beneath.

  In the midst of the Grove was a fine Lawn, sloping down towards the House, near the Summit of which rose a plentiful Spring, gushing out of a Rock covered with Firs, and forming a constant Cascade of about thirty Foot, not carried down a regular Flight of Steps, but tumbling in a natural Fall over the broken and mossy Stones, till it came to the Bottom of the Rock; then running off in a pebly Channel, that with many lesser Falls winded along, till it fell into a Lake at the Foot of the Hill, about a Quarter of a Mile below the House on the South-side, and which was seen from every Room in the Front. Out of this Lake, which filled the Center of a beautiful Plain, embellished with Groupes of Beeches and Elms, and fed with Sheep, issued a River, that, for several Miles, was seen to meander through an amazing Variety of Meadows and Woods, till it emptied itself into the Sea; with a large Arm of which, and an Island beyond it, the Prospect was closed.1

  On the Right of this Valley opened another of less Extent, adorned with several Villages, and terminated by one of the Towers of an old ruined Abbey, grown over with Ivy, and Part of the Front, which remained still entire.

  The Left Hand Scene presented the View of a very fine Park, composed of very unequal Ground, and agreeably varied with all the Diversity that Hills, Lawns, Wood, and Water, laid out with admirable Taste, but owing less to Art than to Nature, could give. Beyond this the Country gradually rose into a Ridge of wild Mountains, the Tops of which were above the Clouds.

  It was now the Middle of May, and the Morning was remarkably serene, when Mr. Allworthy walked forth on the Terrace, where the Dawn opened every Minute that lovely Prospect we have before described to his Eye. And now having sent forth Streams of Light, which ascended the blue Firmament before him, as Harbingers preceding his Pomp, in the full Blaze of his Majesty up rose the Sun; than which one Object alone in this lower Creation could be more glorious, and that Mr. Allworthy himself presented; a human Being replete with Benevolence, meditating in what Manner he might render himself most acceptable to his Creator, by doing most Good to his Creatures.

  Reader, take Care, I have unadvisedly led thee to the Top of as high a Hill as Mr. Allworthy’s, and how to get thee down without breaking thy Neck, I do not well know. However, let us e’en venture to slide down together; for Miss Bridget rings her Bell, and Mr. Allworthy is summoned to Breakfast, where I must attend, and, if you please, shall be glad of your Company.

  The usual Compliments having past between Mr. Allworthy and Miss Bridget, and the Tea being poured out, he summoned Mrs. Wilkins, and told his Sister he had a Present for her; for which she thanked him, imagining, I suppose, it had been a Gown, or some Ornament for her Person. Indeed, he very often made her such Presents; and she, in Complacence to him, spent much Time in adorning herself. I say, in Complacence to him, because she always exprest the greatest Contempt for Dress, and for those Ladies who made it their Study.

  But if such was her Expectation, how was she disappoin
ted, when Mrs. Wilkins, according to the Order she had received from her Master, produced the little Infant! Great Surprizes, as hath been observed, are apt to be silent;2 and so was Miss Bridget, ’till her Brother began, and told her the whole Story, which, as the Reader knows it already, we shall not repeat.

  Miss Bridget had always exprest so great a Regard for what the Ladies are pleased to call Virtue, and had herself maintained such a Severity of Character, that it was expected, especially by Wilkins, that she would have vented much Bitterness on this Occasion, and would have voted for sending the Child, as a kind of noxious Animal, immediately out of the House; but, on the contrary, she rather took the good natured Side of the Question, intimated some Compassion for the helpless little Creature, and commended her Brother’s Charity in what he had done.

  Perhaps the Reader may account for this Behaviour from her Condescension to Mr. Allworthy, when we have informed him, that the good Man had ended his Narrative with owning a Resolution to take care of the Child, and to breed him up as his own; for, to acknowledge the Truth, she was always ready to oblige her Brother, and very seldom if ever, contradicted his Sentiments; she would indeed sometimes make a few Observations, as, that Men were headstrong and must have their own Way, and would wish she had been blest with an independent Fortune; but these were always vented in a low Voice, and at the most amounted only to what is called Muttering.

  However, what she withheld from the Infant, she bestowed with the utmost Profuseness on the poor unknown Mother, whom she called an impudent Slut, a wanton Hussy, an audacious Harlot, a wicked Jade, a vile Strumpet, with every other Appellation with which the Tongue of Virtue never fails to lash those who bring a Disgrace on the Sex.

  A Consultation was now entered into, how to proceed in order to discover the Mother. A Scrutiny was first made into the Characters of the female Servants of the House, who were all acquitted by Mrs. Wilkins, and with apparent Merit; for she had collected them herself; and perhaps it would be difficult to find such another Set of Scarecrows.

  The next Step was to examine among the Inhabitants of the Parish; and this was referred to Mrs. Wilkins, who was to enquire with all imaginable Diligence, and to make her Report in the Afternoon.

  Matters being thus settled, Mr. Allworthy withdrew to his Study, as was his Custom, and left the Child to his Sister, who, at his Desire, had undertaken the Care of it.

  CHAPTER V.

  Containing a few common Matters, with a very

  uncommon Observation upon them.

  When her Master was departed, Mrs. Deborah stood silent, expecting her Cue from Miss Bridget; for as to what had past before her Master, the prudent Housekeeper by no means relied upon it, as she had often known the Sentiments of the Lady, in her Brother’s Absence, to differ greatly from those which she had expressed in his Presence. Miss Bridget did not, however, suffer her to continue long in this doubtful Situation; for having looked some Time earnestly at the Child, as it lay asleep in the Lap of Mrs. Deborah, the good Lady could not forbear giving it a hearty Kiss, at the same time declaring herself wonderfully pleased with its Beauty and Innocence. Mrs. Deborah no sooner observed this, than she fell to squeezing and kissing, with as great Raptures as sometimes inspire the sage Dame of forty and five towards a youthful and vigorous Bridegroom, crying out in a shrill Voice, ‘O the dear little Creature, the dear, sweet, pretty Creature! Well, I vow, it is as fine a Boy as ever was seen!’

  These Exclamations continued, ’till they were interrupted by the Lady, who now proceeded to execute the Commission given her by her Brother, and gave Orders for providing all Necessaries for the Child, appointing a very good Room in the House for his Nursery. Her Orders were indeed so liberal, that, had it been a Child of her own, she could not have exceeded them: But, lest the virtuous Reader may condemn her for shewing too great Regard to a base-born Infant, to which all Charity is condemned by Law as irreligious,1 we think proper to observe, that she concluded the Whole with saying, ‘Since it was her Brother’s Whim to adopt the little Brat, she supposed little Master must be treated with great Tenderness: For her Part, she could not help thinking it was an Encouragement to Vice; but that she knew too much of the Obstinacy of Mankind to oppose any of their ridiculous Humours.’

  With Reflections of this Nature she usually, as has been hinted, accompanied every Act of Compliance with her Brother’s Inclinations; and surely nothing could more contribute to heighten the Merit of this Compliance, than a Declaration that she knew, at the same Time, the Folly and Unreasonableness of those Inclinations to which she submitted. Tacit Obedience implies no Force upon the Will, and, consequently, may be easily, and without any Pains, preserved; but when a Wife, a Child, a Relation, or a Friend, performs what we desire, with Grumbling and Reluctance, with Expressions of Dislike and Dissatisfaction, the manifest Difficulty which they undergo, must greatly enhance the Obligation.

  As this is one of those deep Observations which very few Readers can be supposed capable of making themselves, I have thought proper to lend them my Assistance; but this is a Favour rarely to be expected in the Course of my Work. Indeed I shall seldom or never so indulge him, unless in such Instances as this, where nothing but the Inspiration with which we Writers are gifted, can possibly enable any one to make the Discovery.

  CHAPTER VI.

  Mrs. Deborah is introduced into the Parish, with a

  Simile. A short Account of Jenny Jones, with the

  Difficulties and Discouragements which may attend

  young Women in the Pursuit of Learning.

  Mrs. Deborah, having disposed of the Child according to the Will of her Master, now prepared to visit those Habitations which were supposed to conceal its Mother.

  Not otherwise than when a Kite, tremendous Bird, is beheld by the feathered Generation soaring aloft, and hovering over their Heads; the amorous Dove, and every innocent little Bird, spread wide the Alarm, and fly trembling to their Hiding places. He proudly beats the Air, conscious of his Dignity, and meditates intended Mischief.

  So when the Approach of Mrs. Deborah was proclaimed through the Street, all the Inhabitants ran trembling into their Houses, each Matron dreading lest the Visit should fall to her Lot. She with stately Steps proudly advances over the Field, aloft she bears her tow’ring Head, filled with Conceit of her own Pre-eminence, and Schemes to effect her intended Discovery.

  The sagacious Reader will not, from this Simile, imagine these poor People had any Apprehension of the Design with which Mrs. Wilkins was now coming towards them; but as the great Beauty of the Simile may possibly sleep these hundred Years, till some future Commentator shall take this Work in hand, I think proper to lend the Reader a little Assistance in this Place.

  It is my Intention therefore to signify, that, as it is the Nature of a Kite to devour little Birds, so is it the Nature of such Persons as Mrs. Wilkins, to insult and tyrannize over little People. This being indeed the Means which they use to recompense to themselves their extreme Servility and Condescension to their Superiors; for nothing can be more reasonable, than that Slaves and Flatterers should exact the same Taxes on all below them, which they themselves pay to all above them.

  Whenever Mrs. Deborah had Occasion to exert any extraordinary Condescension to Mrs. Bridget, and by that Means had a little sowered her natural Disposition, it was usual with her to walk forth among these People, in order to refine her Temper, by venting, and, as it were, purging off all ill Humours; on which Account, she was by no Means a welcome Visitant: To say the Truth, she was universally dreaded and hated by them all.

  On her Arrival in this Place, she went immediately to the Habitation of an elderly Matron; to whom, as this Matron had the good Fortune to resemble herself in the Comeliness of her Person, as well as in her Age, she had generally been more favourable than to any of the rest. To this Woman she imparted what had happened, and the Design upon which she was come thither that Morning. These two began presently to scrutinize the Characters of the several young Girls, who
lived in any of those Houses, and at last fixed their strongest Suspicion on one Jenny Jones, who they both agreed was the likeliest Person to have committed this Fact.

  This Jenny Jones was no very comely Girl, either in her Face or Person; but Nature had somewhat compensated the Want of Beauty with what is generally more esteemed by those Ladies, whose Judgment is arrived at Years of perfect Maturity; for she had given her a very uncommon Share of Understanding. This Gift Jenny had a good deal improved by Erudition. She had lived several Years a Servant with a Schoolmaster, who discovering a great Quickness of Parts in the Girl, and an extraordinary Desire of learning, (for every leisure Hour she was always found reading in the Books of the Scholars) had the Good-nature, or Folly (just as the Reader pleases to call it,) to instruct her so far, that she obtained a competent Skill in the Latin Language, and was, perhaps, as good a Scholar as most of the young Men of Quality of the Age. This Advantage, however, like most others of an extraordinary Kind, was attended with some small Inconveniencies: For as it is not to be wondered at, that a young Woman so well accomplished should have little Relish for the Society of those whom Fortune had made her Equals, but whom Education had rendered so much her Inferiors; so is it Matter of no greater Astonishment, that this Superiority in Jenny, together with that Behaviour which is its certain Consequence, should produce among the rest some little Envy and Ill-will towards her; and these had, perhaps, secretly burnt in the Bosoms of her Neighbours, ever since her Return from her Service.