History of Tom Jones, a Foundling

Chapter iv records that, upon Allworthy’s return home, he takes Blifil apart and communicates the proposal. The narrator establishes that Blifil is “entirely free” from the passion that Jones feels for Sophia, and that his appetites are “by nature so moderate” that he subdues them easily. His mind is instead ruled by avarice and ambition; he had previously entertained “distant views” concerning Sophia’s fortune but restrained himself because of her youth, his own, and a reflection that Western might marry again. Now that the proposal comes from Western himself, Blifil hesitates only briefly and answers that matrimony is a subject on which he has not thought, but he will in all things submit to his uncle’s pleasure. Allworthy, “a man of spirit” who had once married a beautiful woman for love, is not greatly pleased with this cold answer and launches into the praises of Sophia. Blifil assures him there is no prior attachment and discourses “so wisely and religiously on love and marriage” that he would have “stopt the mouth of a parent much less devoutly inclined.” Allworthy is satisfied and writes to Western that very morning. Western returns an answer appointing the very afternoon for the courtship. He goes in quest of his sister, who is reading and expounding the Gazette to parson Supple; she undertakes to communicate the affair to Sophia “readily and chearfully,” though the narrator hints her brother might have been a little obliged to that agreeable northern aspect which delighted her, since she offers no comment on the haste of his proceedings.

Chapter v centers on the dialogue between Sophia and her aunt. Sophia is in her chamber reading when Mrs Western enters; Sophia shuts her book with such eagerness that Mrs Western asks what book it is. Sophia defends it as the production of a “young lady of fashion,” whose “good understanding” does honour to her sex, and whose “good heart is an honour to human nature.” Mrs Western takes up the book, throws it down, and remarks that the author is of a very good family but “not much among people one knows.” Sophia replies that to her there appears “a great deal of human nature in it” and in many parts “so much true tenderness and delicacy, that it hath cost me many a tear.” The aunt presses her, declaring that she has seen a little too much of the world to be deceived; she saw through Sophia’s overacted friendship for Blifil at dinner. She declares the passion one she “highly approve[s]” and promises Sophia shall be “happy to the very extent of your wishes.” Sophia, thrown into confusion, says that if it be a fault “to see all human perfections assembled together,” and asks whether her father and aunt can see with her eyes. The aunt replies that they entirely approve and that “this very afternoon your father hath appointed for you to receive your lover.” At the words “this afternoon,” the blood starts from Sophia’s face. Mrs Western explains that she first discovered the passion the evening Sophia fainted in the field, and that Western immediately wanted to propose it to Allworthy, who consented, so that the very afternoon Sophia is to “put on all your best airs.” Sophia, hardly knowing what she says, speaks of Mr Jones’s perfections—“so brave, and yet so gentle; so witty, yet so inoffensive; so humane, so civil, so genteel, so handsome!”—and adds, “What signifies his being base born, when compared with such qualifications as these?” At the name “Mr Blifil,” Sophia turns instantly pale and faintly repeats it, and the aunt, thunderstruck, demands to know whether it is Mr Jones and not Mr Blifil who is the object of her affection. Mrs Western’s rage is unbounded: she declares she would rather follow Sophia to her grave than see her disgrace her family by allying herself to a bastard. Sophia throws herself at her aunt’s feet, tears in her eyes, and begs her to conceal what she has drawn from her, urging the violence of her father’s temper and protesting that no inclination shall prevail with her to do anything that may offend him. Mrs Western consents to keep the secret on one condition: that Sophia shall receive Blifil that very afternoon as her lover. The chapter closes with Sophia obtaining only a promise that the match shall not be hurried on, and Mrs Western declaring that, as she is sensible another man has Sophia’s affections, she shall persuade Western to hasten the match—“it would be bad politics … to protract a siege when the enemy’s army is at hand.”

Chapter vi is described as containing “great variety of matter.” The squire overtook his sister just as she was stepping into her coach and, partly by force and partly by solicitations, prevailed upon her to order her horses back. The lady is, the narrator notes, “of a most placable disposition, and greatly loved her brother, though she despised his parts.” The two now concur in their censures of Sophia, jointly declare war against her, and proceed to concert immediate and “violent”—that is, hasty—measures to conclude the treaty with Allworthy. Mrs Western insists that confinement or absolute force must not be attempted; the plan must be “concerted for a surprize, and not for a storm.” The squire overpowers his daughter’s resistance, Sophia—not having sufficient resolution to resist, as her aunt foresaw—agrees to see Blifil, though she has scarce spirits or strength to utter her assent; and Western declares, in hunting phrase, that “Dead, dead, dead. Never be bashful,” and insists she shall have Blifil “to-morrow morning.” The narrator pauses here, remarking that “scenes like this, when painted at large, afford … very little entertainment to the reader,” and applies a rule of Horace by passing over Blifil’s visit in summary.