Maſter Blifil anſwered, ‘Indeed, Uncle, I am very ſorry for what I have done; I have been unhappily the Occaſtion of it all. I had Miſs Sophia’s Bird in my Hand, and thinking the poor Creature languiſhed for Liberty, I own, I could not forbear giving it what it deſired: for I always thought there was ſomething very cruel in confining any Thing. It ſeemed to me againſt 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 Miſs Sophia would have been ſo much concerned at it, I am ſure I would never have done it; nay, if I had known what would have happened to the Bird itſelf: for when Maſter Jones, who climbed up that Tree after it, fell into the Water, the Bird took a ſecond Flight, and preſently a naſty Hawk carried it away.’
Poor Sophia, who now firſt heard of her little Tommy’s Fate; for her Concern for Jones had prevented her perceiving it when it happened, ſhed a Shower of Tears. Theſe Mr. Allworthy endeavoured to aſſuage, pro-miſing
