Tom Jones Book 14, Chapter 9

Containing Strange Matters

• When Tom gets back to the Millers', he finds them all sitting down to dinner with Mr. Nightingale.
• Bro Nightingale joins them.
• Mrs. Miller takes Tom aside and thanks him for his help.
• She confirms that Mr. Nightingale and Nancy are getting married the next morning.
• After about two or three hours of drinking and chatting, Mr. Nightingale finally pulls Bro Nightingale aside and tells him that he isn't actually married yet. Technically.
• And Bro Nightingale suddenly changes his tune.
• He congratulates Mr. Nightingale on not being married.
• If the marriage is not a done deal yet, Mr. Nightingale doesn't have to go ahead. He can still ditch Nancy.
• Mr. Nightingale protests that he wants to marry her: it's a matter of both honor and love.
• Isn't Bro Nightingale always saying that it should be up to the individual to choose whom they marry?
• Bro Nightingale agrees that he has a choice: the choice to choose his bride wisely.
• The conversation has gone on for a long time, and Mr. Nightingale wants to get back to the group.
• He makes Bro Nightingale promise that he won't bring any of this up to the Millers.
• In exchange, Bro Nightingale makes his nephew promise that he'll come back to Bro Nightingale's place for a discussion after dinner.
• Mr. Nightingale agrees.