The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling

The narrator calls upon an invented muse that he names Mnesis to help him tell his tale. He continues to invoke other personified entities for aid in illustrating “the Manners of Mankind” (526).

Upon asking around London for Sophia, Tom is directed to the lodgings of Mrs. Fitzpatrick, who declines to tell him where to find Sophia in an effort to protect her cousin from marrying “a Rake and a Beggar” (531).

Mrs. Fitzpatrick visits Lady Bellaston, who has determined not to tell Squire Western where his daughter is, because she heard that the Squire mistreated his wife. She is interested in Tom, however, who is described as extremely handsome.