The consternation of Mrs. Deborah Wilkins at the finding of the little infant was rather greater than her master’s had been; nor could she refrain from crying out, with great horror, “My good sir, what’s to be done?”

Mr. Allworthy answered she must take care of the child that evening, and in the morning he would give orders to provide it a nurse.

“Yes, sir,” says she, “and I hope your worship will send out your warrant to take up the hussy its mother.  Indeed, such wicked sluts cannot be too severely punished for laying their sins at honest men’s doors; and though your worship knows your own innocence, yet the world is censorious, and if your worship should provide for the child it may make the people after to believe.  If I might be so bold as to give my advice, I would have it put in a basket, and sent out and laid at the churchwarden’s door.  It is a good night, only a little rainy and windy, and if it was well wrapped up and put in a warm basket, it is two to one but it lives till it is found in the morning.  But if it should not, we have discharged our duty in taking care of it; and it is, perhaps, better for such creatures to die in a state of innocence than to grow up and imitate their mothers.”

But Mr. Allworthy had now got one of his fingers into the infant’s hand, which, by its gentle pressure, seeming to implore his assistance, certainly outpleaded the eloquence of Mrs. Deborah.  Mr. Allworthy gave positive orders for the child to be taken away and provided with pap and other things against it waked.  He likewise ordered that proper clothes should be procured for it early in the morning, and that it should be brought to himself as soon as he was stirring.

Such was the respect Mrs. Wilkins bore her master, under whom she enjoyed a most excellent place, that her scruples gave way to his peremptory commands, and, declaring the child was a sweet little infant, she walked off with it to her own chamber.

Allworthy betook himself to those pleasing slumbers which a heart that hungers after goodness is apt to enjoy when thoroughly satisfied.

In the morning Mr. Allworthy told his sister he had a present for her, and, when Mrs. Wilkins produced the little infant, told her the whole story of its appearance.

Miss Bridget took the good-natured side of the question, intimated some compassion for the helpless little creature, and commended her brother’s charity in what he had done.  The good lady subsequently gave orders for providing all necessaries for the child, and her orders were indeed so liberal that had it been a child of her own she could not have exceeded them.

II.—­The Foundling Achieves Manhood

Miss Bridget having been asked in marriage by one Captain Blifil, a half-pay officer, and the nuptials duly celebrated, Mrs. Blifil was in course of time delivered of a fine boy.

Though the birth of an heir to his beloved sister was a circumstance of great joy to Mr. Allworthy, yet it did not alienate his affections from the little foundling to whom he had been godfather, and had given his own name of Thomas; the surname of Jones being added because it was believed that was the mother’s name.