Tom Jones Book 12, Chapter 13 Summary

A Dialogue Between Jones and Partridge

  • After the storm is over, Tom hits the road again.
  • From Coventry, he goes to Daventry, Stratford, and then Dunstable.
  • Tom is only a couple of hours behind Sophia now, so he thinks he'll catch up with her at St. Albans.
  • But in St. Albans, Tom finds out that the coach carrying Sophia left two hours ago.
  • And he can't get horses for another two hours.
  • So she is definitely going to reach London before he catches her.
  • Partridge convinces Tom to settle down and eat something.
  • Partridge suggests that Tom borrow some money off Sophia's hundred-pound bill.
  • After all, she may want some of it, but she can't need absolutely all of it.
  • And Tom is out of cash.
  • Tom is horrified at Partridge's advice.
  • He tries to use Latin (Partridge's favorite thing) to tell him that theft is a hanging offense.
  • But Partridge gets so stuck on Tom's grammar that he totally misses his larger point.
  • Tom calls Partridge a fool, clearly losing his temper.
  • Partridge apologizes and Tom lets it go.
  • They eat dinner and head off to London.