the Favours which Mr. Allworthy ſhowered on the Foundling; whom the good Man called his own Boy, and in all Things put on an intire Equality with Maſter Blifil. This Acquieſcence in Mrs. Blifil was conſidered by the Neighbours, and by the Family, as a Mark of her Condeſcenſion to her Brother’s Humour, and ſhe was imagined by all others, as well as Thwackum and Square, to hate the Foundling in her Heart; nay, the more Civility ſhe ſhewed him, the more they conceived ſhe deteſted him, and the ſurer Schemes ſhe was laying for his Ruin: For as they thought it her Intereſt to hate him, it was very difficult for her to perſwade them ſhe did not.
Thwackum was the more confirmed in his Opinion, as ſhe had more than once ſlily cauſed him to whip Tom Jones, when Mr. Allworthy, who was an Enemy to this Exerciſe, was abroad; whereas ſhe had never given any ſuch Orderes concerning young Blifil. And this had likewiſe impoſed upon Square. In reality, though ſhe certainly hated her own Son; of which, however monſtrous it appears, I am aſſured ſhe is not a ſingular Inſtance, ſhe appeared, notwithſtanding all her outward Compliance, to be in her Heart ſufficiently diſpleaſed withall
