In Which the History Is Concluded
- Mr. Nightingale sees his father, Nightingale Senior, and his uncle, Bro Nightingale, that afternoon.
- Mr. Nightingale has gotten lucky, since he andhis cousin Harriet have both just gotten married without their fathers' consent.
- This is useful because Nightingale Senior and Bro Nightingale like to criticize each other for how they have each raised their children.
- Both of them have been exaggerating the terribleness of the other's new son/daughter-in-law.
- Nightingale Senior can't be too critical of his son's marriage while he is insulting his niece's match.
- Bro Nightingale really does love his daughter, so as soon as he meets her husband, he treats both of them like he wanted the marriage in the first place.
- So things are pretty good around the Nightingale household when Squire Allworthy, Tom, Squire Western, and Sophia arrive.
- Squire Western is so overjoyed that he insists that everyone come to a party at his lodging the next day.
- So now, the story has reached a happy ending, and Tom is the happiest of men.
- Squire Allworthy refuses to see Mr. Blifil ever again, but he has settled an income on him: 200 pounds a year ($40,000), to which Tom has added another hundred (so, $60,000 total).
- Mr. Blifil is working in politics in the north of England.
- Mr. Square has died, but Mr. Thwackum continues to work as a priest.
- He also keeps trying to suck up to Squire Allworthy, but Squire Allworthy isn't having it.
- Mrs. Fitzpatrick has legally separated from her husband and now lives in London.
- She and the Irish nobleman's wife have become great friends.
- Mrs. Western makes up with Sophia, and stays with her for two months in the country.
- Lady Bellaston congratulates Tom on his marriage as though he were a complete stranger to her.
- Nightingale Senior buys an estate near Tom's home for his son.
- Mr. Nightingale lives there with Nancy, Mrs. Miller, and Betsy (Mrs. Miller's youngest daughter).
- Mrs. Waters has come back to Somersetshire.
- Squire Allworthy gives her a pension of 60 pounds a year ($12,000 today).
- She marries Mr. Supple, who has also just gotten a great job as a clergyman on Squire Western's estate.
- Black George runs away when he hears that his theft has been discovered. No one ever hears from him again.
- Tom gives the 500 pounds Black George stole to the Seagrim family, most of it to Molly specifically.
- Partridge gets 50 pounds a year ($10,000) from Tom.
- He is setting up a school, which is a lot more successful this time around than his earlier efforts.
- He is also in the process of marrying Molly Seagrim.
- Sophia and Tom head back to the country from London two days after getting married.
- Squire Western retires from his estate and leaves most of its management to Tom.
- He goes to another house on his property, which is better for hunting.
- Sophia and Tom have two children, a boy and a girl.
- Squire Allworthy is also very generous to Tom once he marries.
- The two of them speak frequently.
- Whenever Tom seems like he might backslide into his bad old ways, Squire Allworthy's encouragement saves him.
- So to conclude, Sophia and Tom love each other dearly.
- They are universally popular, and there is "not a neighbour, a tenant, or a servant, who doth not most gratefully bless the day when Mr. Jones was married to his Sophia" (18.13.24).