England, might render him odious to a lady of the mot exemplary modefty. Perhaps his fufpicions might be laid aileep by the behaviour of Sophia, and of Jones himself, when they were all in company together. Lastly, and indeed principally, he was well affured there was not another felf in the cafe. He fancied that he knew Jones to the bottom, and had in reality a great contempt for his understanding, for not being more attached to his own interest. He had no apprehenfion that Jones was in love with Sophia and as for any lucrative motives, he imagined they would fway very little with fo filly a fellow. Blifil, moreover, thought the affair of Molly Seagrim fill went on, and indeed believed it would end in marriage: for Jones really loved him from his childhood, and had kept no fecret from him, 'till his behaviour on the fickness of Mr. Allworthy had entirely alienated his heart; and it was by means of the quarrel which had enfued on this occafion, and which was not yet reconciled, that Mr. Blifil knew nothing of the alteration which had happened in the affection which Jones had formerly borne towards Molly.

From these reasons, therefore, Mr. Blifil faw no bar to his fuccefs with Sophia. He concluded, her behaviour was like that of all other young ladies on a firft vifit from a lover, and it had indeed entirely anfwered his expectations.

Mr. Western took care to way-lay the lover at his exit from his mistress. He found him. fo elevated with his fuccefs, fo enamoured with his daughter, and so satisfied with her reception of him, that the old gentleman began to caper and dance about his hall, and by many other antic actions, to express the extravagance of his joy; for he had not the leaft command over any of his paffions and that which had at any time the afcendant in his mind, hurried him to the wildeft exceffes.

As foon as Blifil was departed, which was not till after many hearty kiffes and embraces beftowed on him by Western, the good 'fquire went inftantly in queft of his daughter, whom he no fooner found than he poured forth the most extravagant raptures, bidding

her

her chufe what clothes and jewels fhe pleafed; and declaring that he had no other ufe for fortune but to make her happy. He then careffed her again and again with the utmost profufion of fondness, called her by the moft endearing names, and protested she was his only joy on earth.

Sophia perceiving her father in this fit of affection, which he did not abfolutely know the reafon of (for fits of fondness were not unufual to him, though this was rather more violent than ordinary) thought the fhould never have a better opportunity of difciofing herself than at prefent; as far at leaft, as regarded Mr. Blifil; and fhe too well forefaw the neceflity which she should foon be under of coming to a full explanation. After having thanked the 'iquire therefore for all his profeffions of kindness, the added, with a look full of inexpreffible foftnefs, And is it poffible my papa can be fo good to place all his joy in his Sophy's happiness?' which Western having confirmed by a great oath, and a kifs; fhe then laid hold of his hand, and falling on her knees, after many warm and paffionate declarations of affection and duty, the beg ged him, not to make her the most miferable creature on earth, by forcing her to marry a man whom fhe detefted. This I intreat of you, dear Sir,' faid fhe, for your fake as well as my own, fince you are fo very kind to tell me your happinefs depends on mine. How! what!' fays Western, ftaring wildly. O Sir,' continued fhe, not only your poor Sophy's happiness; her very life, her being depends upon your granting her requeft. I cannot live with Mr. Blifil. To force me into this marriage would be killing me.' You can't live with Mr. Blifil!' :fays Western. No, upon my foul I can't,' answered Sophia. Then die and be d-ned,' cries he, fpurning her from him. Oh! Sir,' cries Sophia, catching hold of the fkirt of his coat, take pity on me, I befeech you. Don't look, and fay fuch cruel--Can you be unmoved while you fee your Sophy in this ⚫ dreadful condition? Can the best of fathers break my heart? Will he kill me by the most painful, cruel, lingering death? Pooh ! pooh !' cries

the

the 'fquire, all ftuff and nonfenfe, all maidenish tricks. Kill you indeed! Will marriage kill you? -Oh! Sir,' anfwered Sophia, fuch a marriage is worse than death-He is not even indifferent, I hate and deteft him.' If you deteft un never so much,' cries Western, you shall ha'un.' This he bound by an oath too fhocking to repeat, and after many violent affeverations, concluded in these words: I am re• folved upon the match, and unless you confent to it, I will not give you a groat, not a fingle farthing; no, though I faw you expiring with famine in the ftreet, I would not relieve you with a morfel of bread. This is my fixed refolution, and fo I leave you to confider on it.' He then broke from her with fuch violence, that her face dafhed against the floor, and he burst directly out of the room, leaving poor Sophia proftrate on the ground.

When Weften came into the hall, he there found Jones; who feeing his friend looking wild, pale, and almoft breathlefs, could not forbear enquiring the reafon of all thefe melancholy appearances. Upon which the 'fquire immediately acquainted him with the whole matter, concluding with bitter denunciations against Sophia, and very pathetic lamentations of the mifery of all fathers who are so unfortunate to have daughters.

Jones, to whom all the refolutions which had been taken in favour of Blifil were yet a fecret, was at firft almoft ftruck dead with this relation; but recovering his fpirits a little, mere defpair, as he afterwards faid, inspired him to mention a matter to Mr. Western, which feemed to require more impudence than a human forehead was ever gifted with. He defired leave to go to Sophia, that he might endeavour to obtain her concurrence with her father's inclinations.

If the 'fquire had been as quick-fighted, as he was remarkable for the contrary, paffion might at prefent very well have blinded him. He thanked Jones for offering to undertake the office, and faid, Go, go, prithee, try what canft do; and then fwore many execrable oaths that he would turn her out of doors unlefs the confented to the match.

CHAP.

CHA P. VIII.

The meeting between Jones and Sophia.:

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ONES departed inftantly in queft of Sophia, whom he found juft rifen from the ground where her fa ther had left her, with the tears trickling from her eyes, and the blood running from her lips. He prefently ran to her, and with a voice full at once of ten-" derness and terrour, cried, O my Sophia, what 'means this dreadful fight !'-She looked foftly at him for a moment before the poke, and then faid, Mr. Jones, for heaven's fake how came you here? Leave me, I befeech you, this moment.' not,' fays he, impofe fo harfh a command upon. me-my heart bleeds fafter than thofe lips. O Sophia, how easily could I drain my veins to preserve one drop of that dear blood.' I have too many obligations to you already,' anfwered the, for fure you meant them fuch.'-Here the looked at him tenderly almost a minute, and then bursting into an ago. ny, cried, O Mr. Jones,why did you fave my life my death would have been happier for us both. Happier for us both cried he, Could racks or wheels kill me fo painfully as Sophia's-I < cannot bear the dreadful found Do I live but for her 'Both his voice and look were full of inexpreffible tenderness when he spoke thefe words, and at the fame time he laid gently hold on her hand, which fhe did not withdraw from him; to fay the truth, fhe hardly knew what he did or fuffered. A few moments now paffed in filence between thefe lovers, while his eyes were eagerly fixed on Sophia, and hers declining towards the ground; at last fhe recovered ftrength enough to defire him again to leave her; for that her certain ruin would be the confequence of their being found together; adding, O Mr. Jones, you know not, youknow not what hath paffed this cruel afternoon. I know all, my Sophia,' aníwered he; your cruel father hath told me all, and he himself hath fent me hither to you.' My father fent you to me VOL. VII. replied

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ever

replied the, fure you dream. Would to heaven,' cries he, it was but a dream. O Sophia, your father hath fent me to you, to be an advocate for my ⚫odious rival, to folicit you in his favour-I took any ⚫ means to get access to you-O fpeak to me, Sophia, ⚫ comfort my bleeding heart. Sure no one ever loved, doated like me. Do not unkindly with-hold this dear, this foft, this gentle hand-One moment, perhaps, tears you for ever from me-Nothing less than this cruel occafion, could, I believe, have ever conquered the refpect and awe, with which you have infpired me.' She ftood a moment filent, and covered with confufion, then lifting up her eyes gently towards him, the cried, What would Mr. Jones have me fay? O do but promife,' cries he, that you will never give yourself to Blifil.' Name not,' anfwered the, the detefted found. Be affured I never will give him what is in my power to with-hold from him.' Now then,' cries he, while you are fo perfectly kind, go a little farther, and add that I may hope. Alas,' fays fhe, Mr. Jones, whither will you drive me? What hope have I to bestow? You know my father's intentions.' But I know,' anfwered he, your compliance with them cannot be compelled.' What,' fays fhe, must be the dreadful confequence of my difobedience? My own ruin is my leaft concern. I cannot bear the thoughts of being the cause of my father's mifery. He is him• felf the caufe,' cries Jones, by exacting a power over you which nature hath not given him. Think on the mifery which I am to fuffer, if I am to lofe you, and fee on which fide pity will turn the ba< lance.' Think of it!' replied the, can you imagine I do not feel the ruin which I must bring on you, thould I comply with your defire-It is that thought which gives me refolution to bid you fly from me for ever, and avoid your own deftruction.' I fear no deftruction,' cries he, but the lofs of Sophia; if you would fave me from the moft bitter agonies, recal that cruel fentence- Indeed, I can never part with you, indeed I cannot.”

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