A visit

“After I had written the above, we received a visit from Mr Tom Lefroy and his cousin George. The latter is really very well-behaved now; and as for the other, he has but one fault, which time will, I trust, entirely remove-it is that his morning coat is a great deal too light. He is a very great admirer of Tom Jones, and therefore wears the same coloured clothes, I imagine, which he did when he was wounded.”

letter to Cassandra
January 9, 1796 [1]

I have read Fielding’s Tom Jones, but I must admit I have no recollection of the color of his clothes. Jane and Tom must have discussed Fielding — a bit risque, perhaps.