ld me, they had come from Ireland, and were on their route
to join the regiment in Flanders.--But alas! said the corporal,--the
lieutenant's last day's march is over.--Then what is to become of his
poor boy? cried my uncle Toby.

Chapter 3.LI.

The Story of Le Fever Continued.

It was to my uncle Toby's eternal honour,--though I tell it only for the
sake of those, who, when coop'd in betwixt a natural and a positive
law, know not, for their souls, which way in the world to turn
themselves--That notwithstanding my uncle Toby was warmly engaged at
that time in carrying on the siege of Dendermond, parallel with the
allies, who pressed theirs on so vigorously, that they scarce allowed
him time to get his dinner--that nevertheless he gave up Dendermond,
though he had already made a lodgment upon the counterscarp;--and bent
his whole thoughts towards the private distresses at the inn; and except
that he ordered the garden gate to be bolted up, by which he might be
said to have turned the siege of Dendermond into a blockade,--he left
Dendermond to itself--to be relieved or not by the French king, as the
French king thought good; and only considered how he himself should
relieve the poor lieutenant and his son.

--That kind Being, who is a friend to the friendless, shall recompence
thee for this.

Thou hast left this matter short, said my uncle Toby to the corporal, as
he was putting him to bed,--and I will tell thee in what, Trim.--In the
first place, when thou madest an offer of my services to Le Fever,--as
sickness and travelling are both expensive, and thou knowest he was but
a poor lieutenant, with a son to subsist as well as himself out of his
pay,--that thou didst not make an offer to him of my purse; because, had
he stood in need, thou knowest, Trim, he had been as welcome to it as
myself.--Your honour knows, said the corporal, I had no orders;--True,
quoth my uncle Toby,--thou didst very right, Trim, as a soldier,--but
certainly very wrong as a man.

In the second place, for which, indeed, thou hast the same excuse,
continued my uncle Toby,--when thou offeredst him whatever was in my
house,--thou shouldst have offered him my house too:--A sick brother
officer should have the best quarters, Trim, and if we had him with
us,--we could tend and look to him:--Thou art an excellent nurse
thyself, Trim,--and what with thy care of him, and the old woman's and
his boy's, and mine together, we might recruit him again