 I should blame or applaud your Goodness, in
concealing such Villany a Moment; but where is Mr. Thwackum? Not that I want any
Confirmation of what you say; but I will examine all the Evidence of this
Matter, to justify to the World the Example I am resolved to make of such a
Monster.«
    Thwackum was now sent for, and presently appeared. He corroborated every
Circumstance which the other had deposed. Nay, he produced the Record upon his
Breast, where the Handwriting of Mr. Jones remained very legible in black and
blue. He concluded with declaring to Mr. Allworthy, that he should have long
since informed him of this Matter, had not Mr. Blifil, by the most earnest
Interpositions, prevented him. »He is,« says he, »an excellent Youth; though
such Forgiveness of Enemies is carrying the Matter too far.«
    In reality, Blifil had taken some Pains to prevail with the Parson, and to
prevent the Discovery at that Time; for which he had many Reasons. He knew that
the Minds of Men are apt to be softened and relaxed from their usual Severity by
Sickness. Besides, he imagined that if the Story was told when the Fact was so
recent, and the Physician about the House, who might have unravelled the real
Truth, he should never be able to give it the malicious Turn which he intended.
Again, he resolved to hoard up this Business, till the Indiscretion of Jones
should afford some additional Complaints; for he thought the joint Weight of
many Facts falling upon him together, would be the most likely to crush him; and
he watched therefore some such Opportunity as that, with which Fortune had now
kindly presented him. Lastly, by prevailing with Thwackum to conceal the Matter
for a Time, he knew he should confirm an Opinion of his Friendship to Jones,
which he had greatly laboured to establish in Mr. Allworthy.
 

                                   Chapter XI

A short Chapter; but which contains sufficient Matter to affect the good-natured
                                    Reader.
 
It was Mr. Allworthy's Custom never to punish any one, not even to turn away a
Servant, in a Passion. He resolved, therefore, to delay passing Sentence on
Jones till the Afternoon.
    The poor young Man attended at Dinner, as usual; but his Heart was too much
loaded to suffer him to eat. His Grief too was a good deal aggravated by the
unkind Looks of Mr. Allworthy; whence he concluded that Western had discovered
the whole Affair between him and Sophia: But as to Mr. Blifil's Story, he had
not the least
