Tom Jones Book 7, Chapter 8

Containing Scenes of Altercation, of No Very Uncommon Kind

• As soon as Mrs. Honour leaves Sophia, she begins thinking things over.
• Is this all really such a good idea?
• If she told Squire Western right now about Sophia's plans, her reward would be immediate.
• If she goes with Sophia, anything could happen—who knows when Sophia would be able to repay her?
• Still, London—it would be exciting to see the city.
• As Mrs. Honour is thinking through the pros and cons of helping out Sophia as she promised, Mrs. Western's maid comes in.
• Mrs. Western's maid has always thought of herself as better than the other servants.
• Her birth is slightly higher, she makes more money, and she has been to London.
• So when she sees Mrs. Honour, she starts saying some snide things that Mrs. Honour won't take lying down.
• The two quickly get into a fight.
• Mrs. Western walks by and asks her maid what's wrong.
• The maid says that Mrs. Honour called Mrs. Western an "ugly old cat" (7.8.4).
• Mrs. Western demands to know how Mrs. Honour would dare to say such a thing.
• Mrs. Honour is so mad that she says that "somebody" is not as pretty as Sophia, and Mrs. Western "[knows] that as well as I" (7.8.5).
• Mrs. Western promises to go to Squire Western to get Mrs. Honour fired.
• Mrs. Honour wishes Mrs. Western luck in finding servants, if she fires everyone who thinks she's ugly. (Oh, snap!)
• As Mrs. Western stalks off, the two maids get into a physical brawl.
• Mrs. Honour wins.