All this, however, weighed very little with Mr. Allworthy. He could not be prevailed on to ſign the Warrant for the Execution of Jones. There was ſomething within his own Breaſt with which the invincible Fidelity which that Youth had preſerved, correſponded much better than it had done with the Religion of Thwackum, or with the Virtue of Square. He therefore ſtrictly ordered the former of theſe Gentlemen to abſtain from laying violent Hands on Tom for what had paſt. The Pedagogue was obliged to obey thoſe Orders; but not without great Reluctance, and frequent Mutterings, that the Boy would be certainly ſpoiled.
Towards the Game-keeper the good Man behaved with more Severity. He preſently ſummoned that poor Fellow before him, and after many bitter Remonſtrances, paid him his Wages, and diſmiſt him from his Service; for Mr. Allworthy rightly obſerved that there was a great Difference between being guilty of a Falſehood to excuſe yourſelf, and to excuſe another. He likewiſe urged, as the principal Motive to his inflexible Severity againſt this Man, that he had baſely ſuffered Tom Jones to undergo ſo heavy aPuniſh-
