 purius.
 
»A Gloss shining beyond the purest Brightness of Parian Marble.«
    Such was the Outside of Sophia; nor was this beautiful Frame disgraced by an
Inhabitant unworthy of it. Her Mind was every way equal to her Person; nay, the
latter borrowed some Charms from the former: For when she smiled, the Sweetness
of her Temper diffused that Glory over her Countenance, which no Regularity of
Features can give. But as there are no Perfections of the Mind which do not
discover themselves, in that perfect Intimacy, to which we intend to introduce
our Reader, with this charming young Creature; so it is needless to mention them
here: Nay, it is a Kind of tacit Affront to our Reader's Understanding, and may
also rob him of that Pleasure which he will receive in forming his own Judgment
of her Character.
    It may however, be proper to say, that whatever mental Accomplishments she
had derived from Nature, they were somewhat improved and cultivated by Art: for
she had been educated under the Care of an Aunt, who was a Lady of great
Discretion, and was thoroughly acquainted with the World, having lived in her
Youth about the Court, whence she had retired some Years since into the Country.
By her Conversation and Instructions, Sophia was perfectly well- though perhaps
she wanted a little of that Ease in her Behaviour, which is to be acquired only
by Habit, and living within what is called the polite Circle. But this, to say
the Truth, is often too dearly purchased; and though it hath Charms so
inexpressible, that the French, perhaps, among other Qualities, mean to express
this, when they declare they know not what it is, yet its Absence is well
compensated by Innocence; nor can good Sense, and a natural Gentility ever stand
in need of it.
 

                                  Chapter III

 Wherein the History goes back to commemorate a trifling Incident that happened
 some Years since; but which, trifling as it was, had some future Consequences.
 
The amiable Sophia was now in her eighteenth Year, when she is introduced into
this History. Her Father, as hath been said, was fonder of her than of any other
human Creature. To her, therefore, Tom Jones applied, in order to engage her
Interest on the Behalf of his Friend the Game-keeper.
    But before we proceed to this Business, a short Recapitulation of some
previous Matters may be necessary.
    Though the different Tempers of Mr. Allworthy, and of Mr. Western did not
admit of a very intimate Correspondence, yet they lived upon what is called a
decent Footing together
