The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling

here was an air of grandeur in it that struck you with awe, and rivalled the beauties

e sheltered from the north-east by a grove of old oaks which rose above it in a gradual ascent

y stones till it came to the bottom of the rock, then running off in a pebly channel, that with many lesser falls winded along, till it fell into a lake at the foot of the hill, about a quarter of a mile below the house on the south side, and which was seen from every room in the front. Out of this lake, which filled

everal villages, and terminated by one of the towers of an old ruined abb

the diversity that hills, lawns, wood, and water, laid out with admirable taste, but owing less to art than to nature, co

having sent forth streams of light, which ascended the blue firmament before him, as harbingers preceding his pomp, in the full blaze of his majesty rose the sun, than which one object alone in this lower creation cou

thout breaking thy neck, I do not well know. However, let us e'en venture to slide down together; for Miss Bridget rings h

for which she thanked him-imagining, I suppose, it had been a gown, or some ornament for her person. Indeed, he very often made her such presents; and she, in complacence to

her master, produced the little infant? Great surprizes, as hath been observed, are apt to be silent; and so was Miss B

ly by Wilkins, that she would have vented much bitterness on this occasion, and would have voted for sending the child, as a kind of noxious animal, immediately out of the house; but, o

breed him up as his own; for, to acknowledge the truth, she was always ready to oblige her brother, and very seldom, if ever, contradicted his sentiments. She would, indeed, sometimes make a few observations, as tha

other appellation with which the tongue of virtue never fails to lash those who bring a disgrace on the sex. - A consultation was now entered into how to proceed in order to discover the mother. A scrutiny was first made into

; and this was referred to Mrs Wilkins, who was to enquire with

s study, as was his custom, and left the child to his s