Chapter ix.

Containing matters which will surprize the reader.

Jenny returned home well pleased with the reception she had met with

from Mr Allworthy, whose indulgence to her she industriously made

public; partly perhaps as a sacrifice to her own pride, and partly

from the more prudent motive of reconciling her neighbours to her, and

silencing their clamours.

But though this latter view, if she indeed had it, may appear

reasonable enough, yet the event did not answer her expectation; for

when she was convened before the justice, and it was universally

apprehended that the house of correction would have been her fate,

though some of the young women cryed out “It was good enough for her,”

and diverted themselves with the thoughts of her beating hemp in a

silk gown; yet there were many others who began to pity her condition:

but when it was known in what manner Mr Allworthy had behaved, the

tide turned against her. One said, “I'll assure you, madam hath had

good luck.” A second cryed, “See what it is to be a favourite!” A

third, “Ay, this comes of her learning.” Every person made some

malicious comment or other on the occasion, and reflected on the

partiality of the justice.

The behaviour of these people may appear impolitic and ungrateful to

the reader, who considers the power and benevolence of Mr Allworthy.

But as to his power, he never used it; and as to his benevolence, he

exerted so much, that he had thereby disobliged all his neighbours;

for it is a secret well known to great men, that, by conferring an

obligation, they do not always procure a friend, but are certain of

creating many enemies.

Jenny was, however, by the care and goodness of Mr Allworthy, soon

removed out of the reach of reproach; when malice being no longer able

to vent its rage on her, began to seek another object of its

bitterness, and this was no less than Mr Allworthy, himself; for a

whisper soon went abroad, that he himself was the father of the

foundling child.

This supposition so well reconciled his conduct to the general

opinion, that it met with universal assent; and the outcry against his

lenity soon began to take another turn, and was changed into an

invective against his cruelty to the poor girl. Very grave and good

women exclaimed against men who begot children, and then disowned

them. Nor were there wanting some, who, after the departure of Jenny,

insinuated that she was spirited away with a design too black to be

mentioned, and who gave frequent hints that a legal inquiry ought to

be made into the whole matter, and that some people should be forced

to produce the girl.

These calumnies might have probably produced ill consequences, at the

least might have occasioned some trouble, to a person of a more

doubtful and suspicious character than Mr Allworthy was blessed with;

but in his case they had no such effect; and, being heartily despised

by him, they served only to afford an innocent amusement to the good

gossips of the neighbourhood.

But as we cannot possibly divine what complection our reader may be

of, and as it will be some time before he will hear any more of Jenny,

we think proper to give him a very early intimation, that Mr Allworthy

was, and will hereafter appear to be, absolutely innocent of any

criminal intention whatever. He had indeed committed no other than an

error in politics, by tempering justice with mercy, and by refusing to

gratify the good-natured disposition of the mob,[*] with an object for

their compassion to work on in the person of poor Jenny, whom, in

order to pity, they desired to have seen sacrificed to ruin and

infamy, by a shameful correction in Bridewell.

[*]Whenever this word occurs in our writings, it intends persons

without virtue or sense, in all stations; and many of the highest

rank are often meant by it.

So far from complying with this their inclination, by which all hopes

of reformation would have been abolished, and even the gate shut

against her if her own inclinations should ever hereafter lead her to

chuse the road of virtue, Mr Allworthy rather chose to encourage the

girl to return thither by the only possible means; for too true I am

afraid it is, that many women have become abandoned, and have sunk to

the last degree of vice, by being unable to retrieve the first slip.

This will be, I am afraid, always the case while they remain among

their former acquaintance; it was therefore wisely done by Mr

Allworthy, to remove Jenny to a place where she might enjoy the

pleasure of reputation, after having tasted the ill consequences of

losing it.

To this place therefore, wherever it was, we will wish her a good

journey, and for the present take leave of her, and of the little

foundling her child, having matters of much higher importance to

communicate to the reader.