Tom Jones Book 4, Chapter 5

Containing Matter Accommodated to Every Taste

• After this whole bird incident, Sophia starts to like Tom a lot morethan Master Blifil.
• Sophia spends three years with her aunt learning how to be a young lady.
• She doesn't see much of Tom or Master Blifil during that time.
• But when Sophia returns from her aunt's and finds that Tom is almost twenty and really extremely good-looking and dashing—well, let's just say Sophia's crush is pretty intense.
• So when Tom draws her aside to say, very seriously, that he has something he wants to discuss with her, Sophia's mind jumps to all kinds of romantic ideas.
• Therefore, she's a little surprised when Tom wants to talk about Black George, the gamekeeper.
• Sophia agrees (a) to help the gamekeeper and his family as best she can, and (b) to talk to her father about a job for Black George.
• Every afternoon, once Squire Western has finished drinking, he likes to listen to his daughter play the harpsichord (which is like an old-school piano).
• That evening, Sophia makes sure to play all of his favorite songs three times over to get him into a good mood.
• Then, when he's feeling great about the world, Sophia asks Squire Western about that job for Black George.
• Squire Western agrees, and his lawyer comes over the next morning to make it final.
• Word quickly gets around the neighborhood that Tom got Black George a new job.
• Master Blifil is furious, since he despises Black George.
• Needless to say, Mr. Thwackum and Mr. Square agree with Master Blifil.
• Squire Allworthy appreciates Tom's generosity towards the Seagrim family (for now).