hort
time--though I thought it a long one--she came back with flannels, &c.
&c. and having fomented my knee soundly for a couple of hours, &c. and
made me a thin bason of gruel for my supper--she wish'd me rest, and
promised to be with me early in the morning.--She wish'd me, an'
please your honour, what was not to be had. My fever ran very high that
night--her figure made sad disturbance within me--I was every moment
cutting the world in two--to give her half of it--and every moment was I
crying, That I had nothing but a knapsack and eighteen florins to share
with her--The whole night long was the fair Beguine, like an angel,
close by my bed-side, holding back my curtain and offering me
cordials--and I was only awakened from my dream by her coming there at
the hour promised, and giving them in reality. In truth, she was scarce
ever from me; and so accustomed was I to receive life from her hands,
that my heart sickened, and I lost colour when she left the room: and
yet, continued the corporal (making one of the strangest reflections
upon it in the world)----'It was not love'--for during the three weeks
she was almost constantly with me, fomenting my knee with her hand,
night and day--I can honestly say, an' please your honour--that...once.

That was very odd, Trim, quoth my uncle Toby.

I think so too--said Mrs. Wadman.

It never did, said the corporal.

Chapter 4.XLV.

--But 'tis no marvel, continued the corporal--seeing my uncle Toby
musing upon it--for Love, an' please your honour, is exactly like war,
in this; that a soldier, though he has escaped three weeks complete
o'Saturday night,--may nevertheless be shot through his heart on
Sunday morning--It happened so here, an' please your honour, with this
difference only--that it was on Sunday in the afternoon, when I fell
in love all at once with a sisserara--It burst upon me, an' please your
honour, like a bomb--scarce giving me time to say, 'God bless me.'

I thought, Trim, said my uncle Toby, a man never fell in love so very
suddenly.

Yes, an' please your honour, if he is in the way of it--replied Trim.

I prithee, quoth my uncle Toby, inform me how this matter happened.

--With all pleasure, said the corporal, making a bow.

Chapter 4.XLVI.

I had escaped, continued the corporal, all that time from falling
in love, and had gone on to the end of the chapter, had it not been
predestined otherwise--there is no resisting our fate.

It was on a S