Page:The history of Tom Jones (1749 Volume 2).pdf/174

 died—nay, the very Thought would kill me.’ ‘You urprize me,’ anwered he,—‘How can you poibly think you have offended me?’ ‘Fear, Madam,’ ays he, ‘eaily runs into Madnes; and there is no Degree of Fear like that which I feel of offending you. How can I peak then? Nay don’t ook angrily at me, one Frown will detroy me.—I mean nothing—Blame my Eyes, or blame thoe Beauties—What am I aying? Pardon me if I have aid too much. My Heart overflowed. I have truggled with my Love to the utmot, and have endeavoured to conceal a Fever which preys on my Vitals, and will, I hope, oon make it impoible for me ever to offend you more.’

Mr. Jones now fell a trembling as if he had been haken with the Fit of an Ague. Sophia, who was in a Situation not very different from his, anwered in thee Words: ‘Mr. Jones, I will not affect to miundertand you; indeed I undertand you too well; but for Heaven’s Sake, if you have any Affection for me, let me make the bet of my way into the Houe. I wih I may be able to upport myelf thither.’