 there was too much Reason for this Conjecture.
The Lad having, from his earliest Years, discovered a Propensity to many Vices,
and especially to one, which hath as direct a Tendency as any other to that
Fate, which we have just now observed to have been prophetically denounced
against him. He had been already convicted of three Robberies, viz. of robbing
an Orchard, of stealing a Duck out of a Farmer's Yard, and of picking Master
Blifil's Pocket of a Ball.
    The Vices of this young Man were moreover heightened by the disadvantageous
Light in which they appeared, when opposed to the Virtues of Master Blifil, his
Companion: A Youth of so different a Cast from little Jones, that not only the
Family, but all the Neighbourhood resounded his Praises. He was indeed a Lad of
a remarkable Disposition; sober, discreet, and pious beyond his Age. Qualities,
which gained him the Love of every one who knew him, while Tom Jones was
universally disliked, and many expressed their Wonder that Mr. Allworthy would
suffer such a Lad to be educated with his Nephew, lest the Morals of the latter
should be corrupted by his Example.
    An Incident which happened about this Time, will set the Characters of these
two Lads, more fairly before the discerning Reader, than is in the Power of the
longest Dissertation.
    Tom Jones, who, bad as he is, must serve for the Heroe of this History, had
only one Friend among all the Servants of the Family; for, as to Mrs. Wilkins,
she had long since given him up, and was perfectly reconciled to her Mistress.
This Friend was the Game-keeper, a Fellow of a loose kind of Disposition, and
who was thought not to entertain much stricter Notions concerning the Difference
of meum and tuum, than the young Gentleman himself. And hence, this Friendship
gave Occasion to many sarcastical Remarks among the Domestics, most of which
were either Proverbs before, or at least are become so now; and indeed, the Wit
of them all may be comprised in that short Latin Proverb, »Noscitur a socio,«
which, I think, is thus expressed in English, »You may know him by the Company
he keeps.«
    To say the Truth, some of that atrocious Wickedness in Jones, of which we
have just mentioned three Examples, might perhaps be derived from the
Encouragement he had received from this Fellow, who, in two or three Instances,
had been what the Law calls an Accessary after the Fact. For the whole Duck, and
great Part of the
