 for that,« says the Parson. »Why sorry,« cries the
Squire, »Where is the mighty Matter o't? What, I suppose, dost pretend that thee
hast never got a Bastard? Pox! more good Luck's thine: for I warrant hast a done
therefore many's the good Time and often.« »Your Worship is pleased to be
jocular,« answered the Parson, »but I do not only animadvert on the Sinfulness
of the Action, though that surely is to be greatly deprecated; but I fear his
Unrighteousness may injure him with Mr. Allworthy. And truly I must say, though
he hath the Character of being a little wild, I never saw any Harm in the young
Man; nor can I say I have heard any, save what your Worship now mentions. I
wish, indeed he was a little more regular in his Responses at Church; but
altogether he seems
 
                    Ingenui vultus puer ingenuique pudoris.
 
That is a classical Line, young Lady, and being rendered into English is, A Lad
of an ingenuous Countenance and of an ingenuous Modesty: For this was a Virtue
in great Repute both among the Latins and Greeks. I must say the young Gentleman
(for so I think I may call him, notwithstanding his Birth) appears to me a very
modest, civil Lad, and I should be sorry that he should do himself any Injury in
Squire Allworthy's Opinion.«
    »Poogh!« says the Squire, »Injury with Allworthy! Why Allworthy loves a
Wench himself. Doth not all the Country know whose Son Tom is? You must talk to
another Person in that Manner. I remember Allworthy at College.«
    »I thought,« said the Parson, »he had never been at the University«.
    »Yes, yes, he was,« says the Squire, »and many a Wench have we two had
together. As arrant a Whoremaster as any within five Miles o'un. No, no. It will
do'n no Harm with he, assure your self; nor with any Body else. Ask Sophy there.
- You have not the worse Opinion of a young Fellow for getting a Bastard, have
you, Girl? No, no, the Women will like un the better for't.«
    This was a cruel Question to poor Sophia. She had observed Tom's Colour
change at the Parson's Story; and that, with his hasty and abrupt Departure,
gave her sufficient Reason to think her Father's Suspicion not groundless. Her
Heart now
