What Arrived While the Company Were At Breakfast, With Some Hints Concerning the Government of Daughters
- The next morning at breakfast, Tom is deeply sad.
- Apparently, Mrs. Fitzpatrick has left, and Tom can't figure out how to find her.
- The conversation around the table turns to love.
- In the middle of this discussion, a delivery arrives for Tom.
- He thinks it must be some mistake; the package is totally bizarre.
- Inside is a black cape with a hood (a "domino"), a mask, and a ticket to a masquerade ball.
- The only message on the package claims to be from "the Queen of the Fairies" (13.6.8), telling Tom to use her present.
- Everyone at the table agrees that they must be from a woman who wants to see him.
- Tom thinks it is Mrs. Fitzpatrick, since no other women in the area know where he's staying.
- Perhaps she's arranging a secret meeting between Tom and Sophia?
- Tom gets his hopes up, of course.
- Mr. Nightingale agrees to go with Tom.
- Mr. Nightingale invites Tom to go with him to a tavern for lunch.
- Tom makes an excuse to dodge Mr. Nightingale's invitation.
- Really, Tom has run completely out of money.
- He's starting to get hungry, though.
- Partridge reminds him of that hundred-pound bill, but Tom still refuses to chip into it.
- So Partridge advises him to go back to Squire Allworthy.
- Tom tries to explain to Partridge (again) that he can't just go back to Squire Allworthy's.
- Tom has to borrow a shilling from Partridge to pay for transportation to get to the masquerade with Mr. Nightingale.