Tom Jones Book 15, Chapter 5

Containing Some Matters Which May Affect, and Others Which May Surprize the Reader

• Sophia is sitting reading a domestic tragedy called The Fatal Marriage. (Foreshadowing!)
• She drops her book and begins to weep.
• Lord Fellamar comes in.
• Lord Fellamar basically declares that he is so in love with her he can't control himself.
• He showers her with compliments.
• Sophia tells him point blank that she has no interest in him at all.
• Lord Fellamar grabs her hand.
• He insists that Sophia will be his.
• Sophia screams, but no one hears her—Lady Bellaston has emptied out the house.
• But then, a voice echoes through the halls.
• Nope, it's not Tom: it's Squire Western, along with his servants and Mr. Supple.
• When Squire Western bursts in, he sees his daughter sitting on a chair, looking furious and slightly disordered.
• Lord Fellamar is also sitting down, his wig messed up and his clothes a little roughed up.
• Squire Western is drunk.
• He rushes to his daughter and begins shouting awful things until Mr. Supple quiets him.
• Squire Western insists that he will only forgive Sophia if she marries Mr. Blifil.
• Mr. Supple asks him to quiet down and stop scaring his daughter.
• Lady Bellaston comes in.
• After Squire Western greets her politely, he starts complaining about Sophia.
• Lady Bellaston agrees that Sophia must accept this match.
• Squire Western thinks they are talking about Mr. Blifil still.
• But of course, Lady Bellaston means Lord Fellamar.
• Lord Fellamar comes forward.
• He introduces himself to Squire Western as though he is already engaged to Sophia.
• Squire Western replies about how you would expect: "You are a son of a b— […] for all your laced coat. You my son-in-law, and be d—nd to you!" (15.5.26).
• Lord Fellamar stomps off.
• Lady Bellaston turns on Squire Western for refusing such a brilliant match for Sophia.
• Squire Western demands that Sophia come with him right now.
• He grabs her hand and marches out the door.
• Squire Western won't even bring Mrs. Honour with them, since she originally helped Sophia to escape.
• Lady Bellaston is glad to see Sophia go.