Tom Jones Book 18, Chapter 10 Summary

Wherein the History Begins to Draw Towards a Conclusion

  • When Squire Allworthy gets home, he finds Tom there.
  • Squire Allworthy asks how he can make up for all of the problems he has caused Tom.
  • Tom answers that just seeing his uncle again like this is enough.
  • Tom says that he deserves all of the punishment he has gotten for his past mistakes.
  • Squire Allworthy is pleased to hear that Tom is turning over a new leaf.
  • Squire Allworthy lectures: the real problem with being wild and rowdy is that you make other people think you are worse than you are.
  • It's important to be careful so that you can maintain your good reputation.
  • Squire Allworthy assures Tom that, if he truly feels bad over his past mistakes, Squire Allworthy will never remind Tom of them.
  • Tom sighs: he may not be a villain, but his past mistakes have lost him Sophia.
  • Tom is bummed out that it looks like he'll never be able to fix this final failure.
  • Squire Western arrives and asks to see Tom.
  • Squire Allworthy meets with Squire Western first to give his nephew some time to pull himself together.
  • As soon as Mrs. Miller finds out that Tom is alone, she runs in and congratulates him on patching things up with Squire Allworthy.
  • She also sympathizes with him over Sophia.
  • Mrs. Miller is impressed by Sophia's beauty, grace, and strength.
  • She thinks Sophia might come around to Tom if he stays on the straight and narrow.
  • Squire Western comes bursting in.
  • He tells Tom they should let bygones be bygones.
  • Tom agrees, and the two make up.
  • Squire Western insists that Tom and Squire Allworthy come to tea.