 these young Gentlemen. She dined,
however, once together with her Aunt, at Mr. Allworthy's. This was a few Days
after the Adventure of the Partridge, before commemorated. Sophia heard the
whole Story at Table, where she said nothing; nor indeed could her Aunt get many
Words from her, as she returned home; but her Maid, when undressing her,
happening to say, »Well, Miss, I suppose you have seen young Master Blifil to
Day.« She answered with much Passion, »I hate the Name of Master Blifil, as I do
whatever is base and treacherous; and I wonder Mr. Allworthy would suffer that
old barbarous Schoolmaster to punish a poor Boy so cruelly for what was only the
Effect of his Good-nature.« She then recounted the Story to her Maid, and
concluded with Saying - »Don't you think he is a Boy of a noble Spirit?«
    This young Lady was now returned to her Father; who gave her the Command of
his House, and placed her at the upper End of his Table, where Tom (who for his
great Love of Hunting was become a great Favourite of the Squire) often dined.
Young Men of open, generous Dispositions are naturally inclined to Gallantry,
which, if they have good Understandings, as was in reality Tom's Case, exerts
itself in an obliging, complaisant Behaviour to all Women in general. This
greatly distinguished Tom from the boisterous Brutality of mere Country Squires
on the one hand; and from the solemn, and somewhat sullen, Deportment of Master
Blifil on the other: And he began now, at Twenty, to have the Name of a pretty
Fellow among all the Women in the Neighbourhood.
    Tom behaved to Sophia with no Particularity, unless, perhaps, by shewing her
a higher Respect than he paid to any other. This Distinction her Beauty,
Fortune, Sense, and amiable Carriage, seemed to demand; but as to Design upon
her Person he had none; for which we shall at present suffer the Reader to
condemn him of Stupidity; but perhaps we shall be able indifferently well to
account for it hereafter.
    Sophia, with the highest Degree of Innocence and Modesty, had a remarkable
Sprightliness in her Temper. This was so greatly encreased whenever she was in
Company with Tom, that, had he not been very young and thoughtless, he must have
observed it; or had not Mr. Western's Thoughts been generally either in the
Field, the Stable, or the Dog-kennel, it might have, perhaps, created some
Jealousy
