Wench himſelf. Doth not all the Country know whoſe Son Tom is? You muſt talk to another Perſon in that Manner. I remember Allworthy at College.’
‘I thought,’ ſaid the Parſon, ‘he had never been at the Univerſity.’
‘Yes, yes, he was,’ ſays the Squire, ‘and many a Wench have we two had together. As errant a Whoremaſter as any within five Miles o’un. No, no. It will do’n no Harm with he, aſſure yourſelf; nor with any Body elſe. Aſk Sophy there—You have not the worſe Opinion of a young Fellow for getting a Baſtard, have you, Girl? No, no, the Women will like un the better for’t.’
This was a cruel Queſtion to poor Sophia. She had obſerved Tom’s Colour change at the Parſon’s Story; and that, with his haſty and abrupt Departure, gave her ſufficient Reaſon to think her Father’s Suſpicions not groundleſs. Her Heart now, at once, diſcovered the great Secret to her, which it had been ſo long diſcloſing by little and little; and ſhe found herſelf highly intereſted in this Matter. In ſuch a Situation, her Father’s malapert Queſtionruſhing
