Page:The history of Tom Jones (1749 Volume 2).pdf/24

 their Friends, and often pry into their Cloets and Cupboards, only to dicover their Poverty and Meannes to the World.

However, as Perons who upect they have given others Caue of Offence, are apt to conclude they are offended; o Sophia imputed an Action of Mater Blifil, to his Anger, which the uperior Sagacity of Thwackum and Square dicerned to have arien from a much better Principle.

Tom Jones, when very young, had preented Sophia with a little Bird, which he had taken from the Net, had nured up, and taught to ing.

Of this Bird, Sophia, then about thirteen Years old, was o extremely fond, that her chief Buines was to feed and tend it, and her chief Pleaure to play with it. By thee Means little Tommy, for o the Bird was called, was become o tame, that it would feed out of the Hand of its Mitres, would perch upon her Finger, and lie contented in her Boom, where it eemed almot enible of its own Happines; tho’ he always kept a mall String about its Leg, nor would ever trut it with the Liberty of flying away.