Tom Jones Book 11, Chapter 10

Containing a Hint or Two Concerning Virtue, and a Few More Concerning Suspicion

• Sophia, Mrs. Fitzpatrick, and the Irish nobleman are in London.
• Mrs. Fitzpatrick refuses to stay in the Irish nobleman's house while his wife is out of town.
• She's very serious about maintaining the appearance of virtue.
• So the two women find a separate place to stay.
• Here's the deal with Mrs. Fitzpatrick: once she ran away from her husband, she realized she needed a protector.
• What better protector could she have than this Irish nobleman who rescued her from her husband's house?
• But she doesn't want to make it obvious that she's his mistress.
• So they are keeping his relationship to her very secret.
• Sophia figures all of this out by watching the Irish nobleman, who's much worse at keeping a secret than Mrs. Fitzpatrick.
• This makes Sophia really eager to go to that relative of hers (Lady Bellaston) who's living in London.
• She's uncomfortable staying with Mrs. Fitzpatrick, and Mrs. Fitzpatrick is uncomfortable having her there.
• As Sophia leaves, she advises her cousin to think of making up with her husband (which, honestly, we think is terrible advice. The man locked her in a room for three weeks! Come on, Sophia.)
• Mrs. Fitzpatrick tells Sophia to be less serious all the time.
• Her virtuous attitude won't work in the city.