Blifil scornfully rejected his hand, and with an insulting illusion to the misfortune of Jones’s birth provoked the latter to blows.  The scuffle which ensued might have produced mischief had it not been for the interference of Thwackum and the physician.

Blifil, however, only waited for an opportunity to be revenged on Jones, and the occasion was soon forthcoming when Mr. Allworthy was fully recovered from his illness.

Mr. Western had found out that his daughter was in love with Tom Jones, and at once decided that she should marry Blifil, to whom Sophia professed great abhorrence.

As for Blifil, the success of Jones was much more grievous to him than the loss of Sophia, whose estate, indeed, was dearer to him than her person.

Mr. Western swore that his daughter shouldn’t have a ha’penny, nor the twentieth part of a brass farthing, if she married Jones; and Blifil, with many sighs, professed to his uncle that he could not bear the thought of Sophia being ruined by her preference for Jones.

“This lady, I am sure, will be undone in every sense; for, besides the loss of most part of her own fortune, she will be married to a beggar.  Nay, that is a trifle; for I know him to be one of the worst men in the world.”

“How?” said Mr. All worthy.  “I command you to tell me what you mean.”

“You know, sir,” said Blifil, “I never disobeyed you.  In the very day of your utmost danger, when myself and all the family were in tears, he filled the house with riot and debauchery.  He drank, and sang, and roared; and when I gave him a gentle hint of the indecency of his actions, he fell into a violent passion, swore many oaths, called me rascal, and struck me.  I am sure I have forgiven him that long ago.  I wish I could so easily forget his ingratitude to the best of benefactors.”

Thwackum was now sent for, and corroborated every circumstance which the other had deposed.

Poor Jones was too full of grief at the thought that Western had discovered the whole affair between him and Sophia to make any adequate defence.  He could not deny the charge of drunkenness, and out of modesty sunk everything that related particularly to himself.

Mr. Allworthy answered that he was now resolved to banish him from his sight for ever.  “Your audacious attempt to steal away a young lady calls upon me to justify my own character in punishing you.  And there is no part of your character which I resent more than your ill-treatment of that good young man (meaning Blifil), who hath behaved with so much tenderness and honour towards you.”

A flood of tears now gushed from the eyes of Jones, and every faculty of speech and motion seemed to have deserted him.  It was some time before he was able to obey Allworthy’s peremptory commands of departing, which he at length did, having first kissed his hands with a passion difficult to be affected, and as difficult to be described.