Tom Jones Book 14, Chapter 2

Containing Letters and Other Matters Which Attend Amours

• Back at Mrs. Miller's house, Tom receives a note from Lady Bellaston.
• The note accuses Tom and Sophia of scheming together and betraying Lady Bellaston.
• But Tom has barely finished this first note when he gets another one.
• The second note apologizes for being so angry.
• Lady Bellaston now wants Tom to come to her house that evening.
• Then, Lady Bellaston turns up in Tom's room herself.
• Lady Bellaston wants to know: has he told Sophia of their affair?
• Tom promises that he hasn't.
• Partridge comes running into the room, announcing that he's just seen Mrs. Honour on the steps.
• Lady Bellaston quickly hides herself under the bed.
• Mrs. Honour comes in, scolding Tom for hurting her beloved employer so much.
• And then—oh, it's so embarrassing—Mrs. Honour starts in on Lady Bellaston.
• Everyone apparently knows Lady Bellaston keeps another house rented under the name of a poor gentlewoman so that she can meet men freely.
• Throughout all of this, Tom is trying to shut Mrs. Honour up.
• Finally, he says that he can't "hear all this of a lady of such honour" (14.2.8).
• Mrs. Honour is hugely offended.
• She hands Tom a letter from Sophia and then rushes off (after Tom has given her a tip).
• Of course, Lady Bellaston is beyond furious.
• She takes her rage all out on Tom, accusing him of carrying on with Sophia and neglecting her.
• She points to the letter as proof that Tom is being dishonest with her (which, of course, he is).
• But Tom manages to soothe her.
• The thing is, Lady Bellaston knows that Sophia is Tom's first love.
• But she finally has to decide if she can be okay with being second in Tom's heart.
• They decide that, in the future, Tom will meet Lady Bellaston at her house.
• After all, the servants will all assume that he's there for Sophia.
• Tom is thrilled to have a chance at least to see Sophia from time to time.
• Tom plans to go to Lady Bellaston's the next day.