Joseph Andrews, vol 2 | Page 5

yourself
deceived, though you should add faith to it, without good works."
"Fellow," cries Trulliber, "dost thou speak against faith in my house?
Get out of my doors: I will no longer remain under the same roof with a
wretch who speaks wantonly of faith and the Scriptures." "Name not
the Scriptures," says Adams. "How! not name the Scriptures! Do you
disbelieve the Scriptures?" cries Trulliber. "No; but you do," answered
Adams, "if I may reason from your practice; for their commands are so
explicit, and their rewards and punishments so immense, that it is
impossible a man should stedfastly believe without obeying. Now,
there is no command more express, no duty more frequently enjoined,
than charity. Whoever, therefore, is void of charity, I make no scruple
of pronouncing that he is no Christian." "I would not advise thee," says
Trulliber, "to say that I am no Christian: I won't take it of you; for I
believe I am as good a man as thyself" (and indeed, though he was now
rather too corpulent for athletic exercises, he had, in his youth, been
one of the best boxers and cudgel-players in the county). His wife,
seeing him clench his fist, interposed, and begged him not to fight, but
show himself a true Christian, and take the law of him. As nothing

could provoke Adams to strike, but an absolute assault on himself or
his friend, he smiled at the angry look and gestures of Trulliber; and,
telling him he was sorry to see such men in orders, departed without
further ceremony.

CHAPTER XV.
_An adventure, the consequence of a new instance which parson
Adams gave of his forgetfulness._
When he came back to the inn he found Joseph and Fanny sitting
together. They were so far from thinking his absence long, as he had
feared they would, that they never once missed or thought of him.
Indeed, I have been often assured by both, that they spent these hours in
a most delightful conversation; but, as I never could prevail on either to
relate it, so I cannot communicate it to the reader.
Adams acquainted the lovers with the ill success of his enterprize. They
were all greatly confounded, none being able to propose any method of
departing, till Joseph at last advised calling in the hostess, and desiring
her to trust them; which Fanny said she despaired of her doing, as she
was one of the sourest-faced women she had ever beheld.
But she was agreeably disappointed; for the hostess was no sooner
asked the question than she readily agreed; and, with a curtsy and smile,
wished them a good journey. However, lest Fanny's skill in
physiognomy should be called in question, we will venture to assign
one reason which might probably incline her to this confidence and
good-humour. When Adams said he was going to visit his brother, he
had unwittingly imposed on Joseph and Fanny, who both believed he
had meant his natural brother, and not his brother in divinity, and had
so informed the hostess, on her enquiry after him. Now Mr Trulliber
had, by his professions of piety, by his gravity, austerity, reserve, and
the opinion of his great wealth, so great an authority in his parish, that
they all lived in the utmost fear and apprehension of him. It was
therefore no wonder that the hostess, who knew it was in his option

whether she should ever sell another mug of drink, did not dare to
affront his supposed brother by denying him credit.
They were now just on their departure when Adams recollected he had
left his greatcoat and hat at Mr Trulliber's. As he was not desirous of
renewing his visit, the hostess herself, having no servant at home,
offered to fetch it.
This was an unfortunate expedient; for the hostess was soon
undeceived in the opinion she had entertained of Adams, whom
Trulliber abused in the grossest terms, especially when he heard he had
had the assurance to pretend to be his near relation.
At her return, therefore, she entirely changed her note. She said, "Folks
might be ashamed of travelling about, and pretending to be what they
were not. That taxes were high, and for her part she was obliged to pay
for what she had; she could not therefore possibly, nor would she, trust
anybody; no, not her own father. That money was never scarcer, and
she wanted to make up a sum. That she expected, therefore, they should
pay their reckoning before they left the house."
Adams was now greatly perplexed; but, as he knew that he could easily
have borrowed such a sum in his own parish, and as he knew he would
have lent it himself to any mortal in distress, so he took fresh courage,
and