Page:The history of Tom Jones (1749 Volume 2).pdf/139

 with what regarded Mr. Allworthy; to whom, as he had more than filial Obligations, o had he for him more than filial Piety. He knew the Nature of that good Man to be o avere to any Baenes or Treachery, that the leat Attempt of uch a Kind would make the guilty Peron for ever odious to his Eyes, and the Name of that Peron a detetable Sound in his Ears. The Appearance of uch unurmountable Difficulties was ufficient to have inpired him with Depair, however ardent his Wihes had been; but even thee were controlled by Compaion for another Woman. The Idea of lovely Molly now intruded itelf before him. He had worn eternal Contancy in her Arms, and he had as often vowed never to outlive his deerting her. He now aw her in all the mot hocking Potures of Death; nay, he conidered all the Mieries of Protitution to which he would be liable, and of which he would be doubly the Occaion; firt by educing, and then by deerting her; for he well knew the Hatred which all her Neighbours, and even her own Siters, bore her, and how ready they would all be to tear her to Pieces. Indeed he had expoed her to more Envy than Shame, or rather to the latter by Means of the former: For many Women abued her for being a