Page:The Garden of Romance - 1897.djvu/130

118 person his good-nature has laid under obligations to him is one Le Fevre, a lieutenant in Angus's;—but he knows me not,' said he, a second time, musing; 'possibly he may my story,' added he. 'Pray tell the Captain that I was the ensign at Breda whose wife was most unfortunately killed with a musket-shot, as she lay in my arms in my tent.' 'I remember the story, an' please your Honour,' said I, 'very well.' 'Do you so?' said he, wiping his eyes with his handkerchief, 'then well may I.' In saying this, he drew a little ring out of his bosom, which seemed tied with a black riband about his neck, and kissed it twice. 'Here, Billy,' said he. The boy flew across the room to the bedside, and falling down upon his knee, took the ring in his hand, and kissed it too, then kissed his father, and sat down upon the bed and wept."

"I wish," said my uncle Toby, with a deep sigh, "I wish, Trim, I was asleep."

"Your Honour," replied the Corporal, "is too much concerned. Shall I pour your Honour out a glass of sack to your pipe?" "Do, Trim," said my uncle Toby.

"I remember," said my uncle Toby, sighing again, "the story of the ensign and his wife, with a circumstance his modesty omitted; and particularly well that he, as well as she, upon some account or other (I forget what) was universally pitied by the whole regiment; but finish the story thou art upon." "'Tis finished already," said the Corporal, "for I could stay no longer; so wished his Honour good night. Young Le Fevre rose from off the bed, and saw me to the bottom of the stairs; and, as we went down together, told me that they had come from Ireland, and were on their route to join the regiment in Flanders.