Page:The history of Tom Jones (1749 Volume 2).pdf/150

 Aurances he had received from her, that the World put in Ballance with him, would make her no Amends for his Los. However, her extreme Poverty, and chiefly her egregious Vanity (omewhat of which hath been already hinted to the Reader,) gave him ome little Hope, that notwithtanding all her avowed Tendernes, he might in Time be brought to content herelf with a Fortune uperiour to her Expectation, and which might indulge her Vanity, by etting her above all her Equals. He reolved therefore, to take the firt Opportunity of making a Propoal of this Kind.

One Day accordingly, when his Arm was o well recovered, that he could walk eaily with it lung in a Sah, he tole forth, at a Seaon when the Squire was engaged in his Field Exercies, and viited his Fair one. Her Mother and Siters, whom he found taking their Tea, informed him firt that Molly was not at Home; but afterwards, the elder Siter acquainted him with a malicious Smile, that he was above Stairs abed. Tom had no Objection to this Situation of his Mitres, and immediately acended the Ladder which led towards her Bed-Chamber; but when he came to the Top, he, to his great Surprize, found the