Page:The history of Tom Jones (1749 Volume 1).pdf/146

 ‘Indeed but he is, aid Allworthy, and a Brother of mine too.’—‘Bles me, Sir, aid the Doctor, do you know the hocking Affair?’—‘Look’ee, Mr. Blifil, anwered the good Man, it hath been my contant Maxim in Life, to make the bet of all Matters which happen. My Siter, tho’ many Years younger than me, is at leat old enough to be at the Age of Dicretion. Had he impoed on a Child, I hould have been more avere to have forgiven him; but a Woman upwards of thirty mut certainly be uppoed to know what will make her mot happy. She hath married a Gentleman, tho’ perhaps not quite her Equal in Fortune and if he hath any Perfections in her Eye, which can make up that Deficiency, I ee no Reaon why I hould object to her Choice of her own Happines; which I, no more than herelf, imagine to conit only in immene Wealth. I might, perhaps, from the many Declarations I have made, of complying with almot any Propoal, have expected to have been conulted on this Occaion; but thee Matters are of a very delicate Nature, and the Scruples of Modety perhaps are not to be overcome. As to your Brother, I have really no