Tom Jones Book 13, Chapter 6

What Arrived While the Company Were At Breakfast, With Some Hints Concerning the Government of Daughters

• The next morning at breakfast, Tom is deeply sad.
• Apparently, Mrs. Fitzpatrick has left, and Tom can't figure out how to find her.
• The conversation around the table turns to love.
• In the middle of this discussion, a delivery arrives for Tom.
• He thinks it must be some mistake; the package is totally bizarre.
• Inside is a black cape with a hood (a "domino"), a mask, and a ticket to a masquerade ball.
• The only message on the package claims to be from "the Queen of the Fairies" (13.6.8), telling Tom to use her present.
• Everyone at the table agrees that they must be from a woman who wants to see him.
• Tom thinks it is Mrs. Fitzpatrick, since no other women in the area know where he's staying.
• Perhaps she's arranging a secret meeting between Tom and Sophia?
• Tom gets his hopes up, of course.
• Mr. Nightingale agrees to go with Tom.
• Mr. Nightingale invites Tom to go with him to a tavern for lunch.
• Tom makes an excuse to dodge Mr. Nightingale's invitation.
• Really, Tom has run completely out of money.
• He's starting to get hungry, though.
• Partridge reminds him of that hundred-pound bill, but Tom still refuses to chip into it.
• So Partridge advises him to go back to Squire Allworthy.
• Tom tries to explain to Partridge (again) that he can't just go back to Squire Allworthy's.
• Tom has to borrow a shilling from Partridge to pay for transportation to get to the masquerade with Mr. Nightingale.