 Opinion; and my Neighbour Allworthy may do as he pleases; but to
encourage Boys in such Practices, is to breed them up to the Gallows.«
    Allworthy answered, »that he was sorry for what his Nephew had done; but
could not consent to punish him, as he acted rather from a generous than
unworthy Motive.« He said, »if the Boy had stolen the Bird, none would have been
more ready to vote for a severe Chastisement than himself; but it was plain that
was not his Design:« And, indeed, it was as apparent to him, that he could have
no other View but what he had himself avowed. (For as to that malicious Purpose
which Sophia suspected, it never once entered into the Head of Mr. Allworthy.)
He, at length, concluded with again blaming the Action as inconsiderate, and
which, he said, was pardonable only in a Child.
    Square had delivered his Opinion so openly, that if he was now silent, he
must submit to have his Judgment censured. He said, therefore, with some Warmth,
»that Mr. Allworthy had too much Respect to the dirty Consideration of Property.
That in passing our Judgments on great and mighty Actions, all private Regards
should be laid aside; for by adhering to those narrow Rules, the younger Brutus
had been condemned of Ingratitude, and the elder of Parricide.«
    »And if they had been hanged too for those Crimes,« cried Thwackum, »they
would have had no more than their Deserts. A couple of heathenish Villains!
Heaven be praised, we have no Brutus's now-a-days. I wish, Mr. Square, you would
desist from filling the Minds of my Pupils with such Antichristian Stuff: For
the Consequence must be, while they are under my Care, its being well scourged
out of them again. There is your Disciple Tom almost spoiled already. I
overheard him the other Day disputing with Master Blifil, that there was no
Merit in Faith without Works. I know that is one of your Tenets, and I suppose
he had it from you.«
    »Don't accuse me of spoiling him,« says Square. »Who taught him to laugh at
whatever is virtuous and decent, and fit and right in the Nature of Things? He
is your own Scholar, and I disclaim him. No, no, Master Blifil is my Boy. Young
as he is, that Lad's Notions of moral Rectitude I defy you ever to eradicate.«
    Thwackum put on a contemptuous Sneer at this
