Book Ten

Chapters 1 - 5

Summary

Firstly, the author requests the critics, not to be too harsh on the novel. After giving these admonitions, he once more sets forward with his history.

An Irish gentleman, Mr. Fitzpatrick arrives at the Upton Inn. He asks Susan the chambermaid whether there was any lady in the house. Susan tells him about Mrs. Waters and then conducts him to the lady's bed chamber. The Irish man breaks open Mrs. Waters locked door and finds Tom inside. Tom is in bed with Mrs. Waters and the latter starts screaming loudly. Another Irish gentleman, staying in the chamber next to Mrs. Waters chamber approaches hearing all the chaos and he tells Mr.Fitzpatrick that the lady in bed with Tom is not Mrs. Fitzpatrick. Mr. Fitzpatrick on realizing his mistake apologizes profusely to Mrs. Waters. The other Irish gentleman chides Mr. Fitzpatrick for having disturbed people in the inn in the middle of the night.

The landlady enters Mrs. Waters room now as the latter continues shouting. Mr. Fitzpatrick begs forgiveness for having committed a mistake. Tom now pretends that he had gone to Mrs. Waters room on hearing the chaos there. Mrs. Waters pretends to be a modest woman, awakened out of her sleep by the appearance of three strange men in her chamber. The landlady continues to defend her Inn, while Tom leaves Mrs. Waters's room.

The landlady and Susan the chambermaid have a dialogue on the occasion of the disturbance. Susan tells the landlady that she saw Tom leap from Mrs. Waters' bed. The landlady refuses to believe this though. The two Irish gentlemen share a bed but only because both are very tired and desperately need some rest sleep.

Partridge is now awakened. Two young women in riding habits arrive at the inn. The rich young woman is in a hurry to move on but the landlady persuades her to stay in the inn as it is very late already. The charming young woman is given a good room to stay in. When she goes up, Partridge and the landlady greatly praise the lady.

Her mistress is none other than Sophia herself and Mrs. Abigail is Mrs. Honour. Sophia is overjoyed at learning that Tom is in the same inn. Mrs. Honour is sent to awaken Mr. Jones and tell him that Sophia wishes to meet him. But, Honour learns that Tom is in bed with another woman and tells Sophia what she had heard. Sophia is tormented with anxiety and takes the decision to question Susan and the chambermaid on this matter. Susan informs them that Tom is not in his bed. She goes on to say that Tom had spoken disrespectfully about Sophia before. Sophia is shocked and believes Tom to be a villain and a wretch and decides to leave the inn. Before leaving the inn though she sends her old muff with her name on it, to Tom's room.

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