Page:The history of Tom Jones (1749 Volume 1).pdf/132

 engaged him in many religious Controveries; on which Occaions he contantly expreed great Satisfaction in the Doctor’s Knowledge, and not much les in the Compliments which he frequently betowed on her own. To ay the Truth, he had read much Englih Divinity, and had puzzled more than one of the neighbouring Curates. Indeed her Converation was o pure, her Looks o age, and her whole Deportment o grave and olemn, that he eemed to deerve the Name of Saint equally with her Name-ake, or with any other Female in the Roman Kalendar.

As Sympathies of all Kinds are apt to beget Love, o Experience teaches us that none of have a more direct Tendency this Way than thoe of a religious Kind between Perons of different Sexes. The Doctor found himelf o agreeable to Mis Bridget, that he now began to lament an unfortunate Accident which had happened to him about ten Years before; namely, his Marriage with another Woman, who was not only till alive, but what was wore, known to be o by Mr. Allworthy. This was a fatal Bar to that Happines which he otherwie aw ufficient Probability of obtaining with this young Lady; for as to criminal Indulgencies, he