 in her Bosom. She resisted it therefore with
her utmost Force, and summoned every Argument her Reason (which was surprizingly
strong for her Age) could suggest, to subdue and expel it. In this she so far
succeeded, that she began to hope from Time and Absence a perfect Cure. She
resolved therefore to avoid Tom Jones, as much as possible; for which Purpose
she began to conceive a Design of visiting her Aunt, to which she made no Doubt
of obtaining her Father's Consent.
    But Fortune, who had other Designs in her Head, put an immediate Stop to any
such Proceeding, by introducing an Accident, which will be related in the next
Chapter.
 

                                  Chapter XIII

A dreadful Accident which befel Sophia. The gallant Behaviour of Jones, and the
  more dreadful Consequence of that Behaviour to the young Lady; with a short
                    Digression in Favour of the Female Sex.
 
Mr. Western grew every Day fonder and fonder of Sophia, insomuch that his
beloved Dogs themselves almost gave Place to her in his Affections; but as he
could not prevail on himself to abandon these, he contrived very cunningly to
enjoy their Company, together with that of his Daughter, by insisting on her
riding a hunting with him.
    Sophia, to whom her Father's Word was a Law, readily complied with his
Desires, though she had not the least Delight in a Sport, which was of too rough
and masculine a Nature to suit with her Disposition. She had, however, another
Motive, beside her Obedience, to accompany the old Gentleman in the Chace; for
by her Presence she hoped in some Measure to restrain his Impetuosity, and to
prevent him from so frequently exposing his Neck to the utmost Hazard.
    The strongest Objection was that which would have formerly been an
Inducement to her, namely, the frequent Meeting with young Jones, whom she had
determined to avoid; but as the End of the hunting Season now approached, she
hoped, by a short Absence with her Aunt, to reason herself entirely out of her
unfortunate Passion; and had not any Doubt of being able to meet him in the
Field the subsequent Season without the least Danger.
    On the second Day of her Hunting, as she was returning from the Chace, and
was arrived within a little Distance from Mr. Western's House, her Horse, whose
mettlesome Spirit required a better Rider, fell suddenly to prancing and
capering, in such a Manner, that she was in the most eminent Peril of falling.
Tom Jones, who was at a little Distance behind, saw this, and immediately
galloped up to
