Page:The history of Tom Jones (1749 Volume 1).pdf/126

 abroad, that he himelf was the Father of the foundling Child.

This Suppoition o well reconciled his Conduct to the general Opinion, that it met with universal Aent; and the Outcry againt his Lenity oon began to take another Turn, and was changed into an Invective againt his Cruelty to the poor Girl. Very grave and good Women exclaimed againt Men who begon Children and then diowned them. Nor were there wanting ome, who, after the Departure of Jenny, ininuated, that he was pirited away with a Deign too black to be mentioned, and who gave frequent Hints, that a legal Inquiry ought to be made into the whole Matter, and that ome People hould be forced to produce the Girl.

Thee Calumnies might have probably produced ill Conequences (at the leat might have occaioned ome Trouble,) to a Peron of a more doubtful and upicious Character than Mr. Allworthy was bleed with; but in his Cae they had no uch Effect; and, being heartily depied by him, they erved only to afford an innocent Amuement to the good Goips of the Neighbourhood.