Page:The history of Tom Jones (1749 Volume 2).pdf/27

 Mater Blifil anwered, ‘Indeed, Uncle, I am very orry for what I have done; I have been unhappily the Occation of it all. I had Mis Sophia’s Bird in my Hand, and thinking the poor Creature languihed for Liberty, I own, I could not forbear giving it what it deired: for I always thought there was omething very cruel in confining any Thing. It eemed to me againt the Law of Nature, by which every Thing hath a Right to Liberty; nay, it is even unchristian; for it is not doing what we would be done by: But if I had imagined Mis Sophia would have been o much concerned at it, I am ure I would never have done it; nay, if I had known what would have happened to the Bird itelf: for when Mater Jones, who climbed up that Tree after it, fell into the Water, the Bird took a econd Flight, and preently a naty Hawk carried it away.’

Poor Sophia, who now firt heard of her little Tommy’s Fate; for her Concern for Jones had prevented her perceiving it when it happened, hed a Shower of Tears. Thee Mr. Allworthy endeavoured to auage, pro-