Page:The history of Tom Jones (1749 Volume 1).pdf/182

 the ame Time, everal Blows, the Marks of which he hould carry to the Grave.

The poor Man, who bore on his Face many more viible Marks of the Indignation of his Wife, tood in ilent Atonihment at this Accuation; which the Reader will, I believe, bear Witnes for him, had greatly exceeded the Truth; for indeed he had not truck her once; and this Silence being interpreted to be a Confeion of the Charge, by the whole Court, they all began at once, una voce, to rebuke and revile him, repeating often, that none but a Coward ever truck a Woman.

Mr. Partridge bore all this patiently; but when his Wife appealed to the Blood on her Face, as an Evidence of his Barbarity, he could not help laying Claim to his own Blood, for o it really was; as he thought it very unnatural, that this hould rie up (as we are taught that of a murdered Peron often doth) in Vengeance againt him.

To this the Women made no other Anwer, than that it was Pity it had not come from his Heart, intead of his Face; all declaring, that if their Hubands hould lift their Hands againt them, they would