day of his life, to treat
him as such--it would have made no variation in the manner in which he
informed him of the affair.

'I am in love, corporal!' quoth my uncle Toby.

Chapter 4.LII.

In love!--said the corporal--your honour was very well the day before
yesterday, when I was telling your honour of the story of the King of
Bohemia--Bohemia! said my uncle Toby...musing a long time...What became
of that story, Trim?

--We lost it, an' please your honour, somehow betwixt us--but your
honour was as free from love then, as I am--'twas just whilst thou
went'st off with the wheel-barrow--with Mrs. Wadman, quoth my uncle
Toby--She has left a ball here--added my uncle Toby--pointing to his
breast--

--She can no more, an' please your honour, stand a siege, than she can
fly--cried the corporal--

--But as we are neighbours, Trim,--the best way I think is to let her
know it civilly first--quoth my uncle Toby.

Now if I might presume, said the corporal, to differ from your honour--

--Why else do I talk to thee, Trim? said my uncle Toby, mildly--

--Then I would begin, an' please your honour, with making a good
thundering attack upon her, in return--and telling her civilly
afterwards--for if she knows any thing of your honour's being in love,
before hand--L..d help her!--she knows no more at present of it, Trim,
said my uncle Toby--than the child unborn--

Precious souls--!

Mrs. Wadman had told it, with all its circumstances, to Mrs. Bridget
twenty-four hours before; and was at that very moment sitting in council
with her, touching some slight misgivings with regard to the issue of
the affairs, which the Devil, who never lies dead in a ditch, had put
into her head--before he would allow half time, to get quietly through
her Te Deum.

I am terribly afraid, said widow Wadman, in case I should marry him,
Bridget--that the poor captain will not enjoy his health, with the
monstrous wound upon his groin--

It may not, Madam, be so very large, replied Bridget, as you think--and
I believe, besides, added she--that 'tis dried up--

--I could like to know--merely for his sake, said Mrs. Wadman--

--We'll know and long and the broad of it, in ten days--answered Mrs.
Bridget, for whilst the captain is paying his addresses to you--I'm
confident Mr. Trim will be for making love to me--and I'll let him as
much as he will--added Bridget--to get it all out of him--

The measures were taken at once--and my uncle Toby a