The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling

d to none who are not members of that honourable fraternity, Mrs Partridge was pretty well satisfied that she had condemned her husband without cause, and endeavoured by acts of kindness

passion of anger had raged very high, the remission was usually longer: and so was the case at present; for she continued longer in a state of affability, after this fit of jealousy was ended, than her husban

of superstition, are apt to apprehend that great and unusual peace or tranquillity will be attended with its opposite. For which reason the antients used, on such occasio

er, would bestir himself a little, in order to find out the real cause of this sudden transition from good to bad fortune, which hath been so often remark

part for public rendezvous, where the curious might meet and satisfy their mutual curiosity. Among these, the barbers' shops have justly borne the pre-eminence.

ccurrences are much more largely and freely treated in the former than in the latter. But this serves only for the men. Now, whereas the females of this country, especially those of the lower order, do associate themselves much

themselves more happy than any of their foreign sisters; as I do not remember eithe

p, the known seat of all the news; or, as it is vul

d heard no news lately of Jenny Jones? To which she answered in the negative. Upon this the other repl

d no other quarrel to her maid, answered boldly, She did not know any obligation the pari

ave not heard, it seems, that she hath been brought to bed of two bastards? but as they are

don't know whether we must keep them; but I am sure they must have b

n house while she lived with her. The leaning over the chair, the sudden starting up, the Latin, the smile, and many other things, rushed upon her all at once. The satisfaction her husband expressed in the departure of Jenny, appeared now to be

rceness to the noble tiger himself, when a little mouse, whom it hath long tormented in sport, escapes from her clutches for a while, frets, scolds, growls, swears; but if the trun

n him at once. His wig was in an instant torn from his head, his shirt from his back, and from his face de

cap fell off in the struggle, and her hair being too short to reach her shoulders, erected itself on her head; her stays likewise, which were laced through one single hole at the bottom, burst open; and her breasts, which were much more redundant than her hair, hung down below her m

she wore at the ends of her fingers useless; which she no sooner perceived, than the softness of her s

instantly into the street, hallowing out that his wife was in the agonies of death, and beseeching the neighbours to fly with the utmost haste to her assistance. Several good wom

eived from her husband; who, she said, was not contented to injure her in her bed; but, upon her upbraiding him with it, had treated her in the cruelest manner imagina

ill, I believe, bear witness for him, had greatly exceeded the truth; for indeed he had not struck her once; and this silence being interpreted to be a confes

s barbarity, he could not help laying claim to his own blood, for so it really was; as he thought it very unnat

m his heart, instead of his face; all declaring, that, if their husbands should lif

ure behaviour, the company at length departed, and left the husband and wife to a persona