Tom Jones Book 12, Chapter 10

In Which Mr. Jones and Mr. Dowling Drink a Bottle Together

• Mr. Dowling tries to drink a toast to Squire Allworthy and Mr. Blifil.
• Tom is okay with toasting Squire Allworthy, but he refuses to celebrate Mr. Blifil.
• Tom says that Mr. Blifil looks decent, but that he is actually a lying fiend.
• Mr. Dowling thinks it's unfair that a guy like that should inherit Squire Allworthy's estate.
• Mr. Dowling wants to know the whole story of how Tom came to join Squire Allworthy's household.
• So Tom tells it, and Mr. Dowling is very moved.
• Mr. Dowling also doesn't understand how this all happened, unless someone was specifically influencing Squire Allworthy against him.
• Why, Tom might have expected to be Squire Allworthy's heir!
• Tom doesn't care about any potential inheritance.
• Perhaps it's because of the inheritance that Mr. Blifil has been so cruel to Tom.
• But Tom doesn't care, because he knows that he is innocent.
• Mr. Dowling is very impressed by Tom's statements.
• As soon as Tom hears the horses are ready, he pays his bill and Tom, Partridge, and the guide hit the road.