Thatcher's Reign in Britain
...scovers he has to abandon, having no money to pay for his feed. Entering another inn, Adams listens to the conversation of two lawyers who respectively applaud and upbraid the morals and judgment of a local justice (the reason being, as the host explains, that they had argued a case before him). Mr. Slipslop, and then Joseph, happen along, Adams joining Slipslop and the other ladies in a coach, one of whom tells a lengthy story about Leonora and Bellarmine (a sentimental story of the type that the realism of Joseph Andrews is a reply to). At the next inn, Adams rebukes the surly host, who had made a disparaging comment aboui Joseph's injured leg, and found himself in a fist fight with the host, whose wife then hurled a pan full of hog's blood at him, while a certain Miss Graveairs and a much-travelled gentleman cluck disapprovingly, Joseph now entered the coach, leaving Adams to walk, and he meets a man who descants at length on the virtue of bravery, but runs away when he hears sounds of an attack. It is Fanny, Joseph's beloved, who is rescued from a would-be ravisher by Adams, the two of them, however, being arrested by mob of bird-batters through a wily tick on the part of Fanny's attacker. Brought before an ignorant and inept justice, they are released only by the timely intervention of Squire Booby. At the next inn, Adams and Fanny encounter Joseph; there is a display of tender affection between the lovers, and of bad grace by Slipslop (who is chagrined to find Fanny, an obstacle to her designs on Joseph, and stalks off). Adams, impecunious as usual, tries to borrow money from Parson Trulliber, only to discover that he is a gross uncharitable hypocrite, but is then bailed out by a poor country peddler. Travelling on, they meet an apparently benevolent squire, who promises Adams a great deal and makes good on nothing, and they hear the story of the inn-keeper's life, who had himself been victimized by the same squire. The host is surprised to discover in Adams, however, not a sympathetic listener, but a stoic and ascete, who chides him for his interest in material things then walks out in high dudgeon. Book III: Adams, Joseph, and Fanny, retreating from (as they imagine) a band of murderers, arrive at the cottage of Mr. Wilson, who gives them refreshment, and then entertains them with the story of his life-from the fleshpots of London to the retirement of a country farm with his wife (the former Harriet Hearty) - his only regret being the loss of a young son years before (Joseph, as it later develops). They travel on, Joseph and Adams disputing the effect which "public" schools have on national morality, and encounter a hare-hunt. The hunt master (a squire) sets his dogs on Adams; they are beaten off by him and Joseph, and the squire, feigning hospitality, invites them to his house, where he keeps a company of grotesque minions who give Adams a "roasting" until he finally understands the mockery they are making of him, gives the squire a dunking and leaves. They meet a priest at the next inn, who discourses to Adams on the contempt of wealth, and then reveals that he has no money for his bill, after which they retire for the night. In the morning, Fanny is abducted by the squire's henchmen, and Adams preaches stoic resignation to Joseph while both are tied to a bed-post. The timely arrival of Peter Pounce, Lady Booby's steward, and his attendants, brings about Fanny's rescue, but involves Adams in an argument with the unscrupulous and uncharitable Pounce, whose carriage Adams leaps from and continues the journey on foot. Book IV: ...