In Which Mr. Western Visits Mr. Allworthy
- Squire Western arrives at Squire Allworthy's house just after breakfast.
- Poor Squire Allworthy has just been feeling good about the world.
- So you can imagine that he's a bit surprised when Squire Western shouts out of the blue, "You have brought up your bastard to a fine purpose" (6.10.2).
- Squire Western screams that Tom has been "poaching after" (6.10.2) his daughter.
- Squire Western plans to lock up Sophia and make her marry Mr. Blifil.
- He runs back out of the house as suddenly as he came, afraid that his daughter will try to run away while his back is turned.
- Mr. Blifil is furious.
- He doesn't care about Sophia at all.
- But he really doesn't want Tom to beat him in her affections.
- Mr. Blifil jumps at the opportunity to badmouth Tom to Squire Allworthy.
- He tells Squire Allworthy about the fight between Tom and Misters Blifil and Thwackum
- He says that Tom attacked him and Mr. Thwackum unfairly (see Book 5, Chapter 11 for the real story).
- Squire Allworthy brings in Mr. Thwackum and asks if this is all true.
- Mr. Thwackum arrives and (of course) backs up everything terrible that Mr. Blifil says about Tom, the fight, and its causes.