Page:The history of Tom Jones (1749 Volume 1).pdf/89

 rie immediately and come to him, and in the mean Time was o eager in contemplating the Beauty of Innocence, appearing in thoe lively Colours with which Infancy and Sleep always diplay it, that his Thoughts were too much engaged to reflect that he was in his Shirt, when the Matron came in. She had indeed given her Mater ufficient Time to dres himelf; for out of Repect to him, and Regard to Decency, he had pent many Minutes in adjuting her Hair at the Looking-glas, notwithtanding all the Hurry in which he had been ummoned by the Servant, and tho’ her Mater, for ought he knew, lay expiring in an Apoplexy, or in ome other Fit.

It will not be wondered at, that a Creature, who had o trict a Regard to Decency in her own Peron, hould be hocked at the leat Deviation from it in another. She therefore no ooner opened the Door, and aw her Mater tanding by the Bedide in his Shirt, with a Candle in his Hand, than he tarted back in a mot terrible Fright, and might perhaps have wooned away, had he not now recollected his being undret, and put an End to her Terrors, by deiring her to tay without the Door