Page:The history of Tom Jones (1749 Volume 2).pdf/167

 this Aurance leen his Depair of obtaining the Conent of her Father, nor the Horrors which attended his Puruit of her by any bae or treacherous Method.

The Injury which he mut thus do to Mr. Wetern, and the Concern which would accrue to Mr. Allworthy, were Circumtances that tormented him all Day, and haunted him on his Pillow at Night. His Life was a contant Struggle between Honour and Inclination, which alternately triumphed over each other in his Mind. He often reolved, in the Abence of Sophia, to leave her Father’s Houe, and to ee her no more; and as often, in her Preence, forgot all thoe Reolutions, and determined to purue her at the Hazard of his Life, and at the Forfeiture of what was much dearer to him.

This Conflict began oon to produce very trong and viible Effects: For he lot all his uual Sprightlines and Gaiety of Temper, and became not only melancholy when alone, but dejected and abent in Company; nay, if ever he put on a forced Mirth, to comply with Mr. Wetern’s Humour, the Contraint appeared o plain, that he may eem to have been giving the