adjust his looks, his carriage, and, perhaps, the inmost sentiments of his heart,-I would have one, Yorick, if possible, polished at all points, fit for my child to look into.This is very good sense, quoth my uncle Toby to himself.

-There is, continued my father, a certain mien and motion of the body and all its parts, both in acting and speaking, which argues a man well within; and I am not at all surprised that Gregory of Nazianzum, upon observing the hasty and untoward gestures of Julian, should foretell he would one day become apostate;-or that St. Ambrose should turn his amanuensis out of doors, because of an indecent motion of his head, which went backwards and forwards like a flail;—or that Democritus should conceive Protagoras to be a scholar, from seeing him bind up a faggot, and thrusting, as he did it, the small twigs inwards.-There are a thousand unnoticed openings, continued my father, which let a penetrating eye at once into a man's soul; and I maintain it, added he, that a man of sense does not lay down his hat in coming into a room, or take it up in going out of it, but something escapes, which discovers him.

It is for these reasons, continued my father, that the governor I make choice of shall neither* lisp, nor squint, nor wink, nor talk loud, nor look fierce, nor foolish ;-nor bite his lips, nor grind his teeth, nor speak through his nose, nor pick it, nor blow it with his fingers.

He shall neither walk fast, nor slow, nor fold his arms, for that is laziness;-nor hang them down, -for that is folly; nor hide them in his pocket, for that is nonsense.

* Vid. Pellegrina.

He shall neither strike, nor pinch, nor tickle,nor bite, nor cut his nails, nor hawk, nor spit, nor snift, nor drum with his feet or fingers in company; -nor (according to Erasmus) shall he speak to any one in making water,-nor shall he point to carrion or excrement.—Now this is all nonsense again, quoth my uncle Toby to himself.

I will have him, continued my father, cheerful, facété, jovial; at the same time prudent, attentive to business, vigilant, acute, argute, inventive, quick in resolving doubts and speculative questions; he shall be wise, and judicious, and learned.—And why not humble, and moderate, and gentle-tempered, and good? said Yorick.————And why not, cried my uncle Toby, free, and generous, and bountiful, and brave?

-He shall, my dear Toby, replied my father, getting up and shaking him by his hand. Then, brother Shandy, answered my uncle Toby, raising himself off the chair, and laying down his pipe to take hold of my father's own hand,-I humbly beg I may recommend poor Le Fevre's son to you-(a tear of joy of the first water sparkled in my uncle Toby's eye, and another, the fellow to it, in the Corporal's as the proposition was made)-you will see why, when you read Le Fevre's story.—Fool that I was! nor can I recollect (nor perhaps you) without turning back to the place, what it was that hindered me from letting the Corporal tell it in his own words; -but the occasion is lost,-I must tell it now in my own.

CHAPTER VI.

THE STORY OF LE FEVRE.

It was some time in the summer of that year in which Dendermond was taken by the allies, which was about seven years before my father came into the country,—and about as many after the time that my uncle Toby and Trim had privately decamped from my father's house in town, in order to lay some of the finest sieges to some of the finest fortified cities in Europe; when my uncle Toby was one evening getting his supper, with Trim sitting behind him at a small sideboard,—I say, sitting,-for, in consideration of the Corporal's lame knee, (which sometimes gave him exquisite pain) when my uncle Toby dined or supped alone, he would never suffer the Corporal to stand; and the poor fellow's veneration for his master was such, that, with a proper artillery, my uncle Toby could have taken Dendermond itself, with less trouble than he was able to gain this point over him; for many a time, when my uncle Toby supposed the Corporal's leg was at rest, he would look back, and detect him standing behind him with the most dutiful respect.— This bred more little squabbles between them, than all other causes for five-and-twenty years together; but this is neither here nor there, why do I mention it? Ask my pen; it governs me,-I govern not it.

He was one evening sitting thus at his supper, when the landlord of a little inn in the village came into the parlour, with an empty phial in his hand, to beg a glass or two of sack. 'Tis for a poor gentleman, I think, of the army, said the landlord, who has been

taken ill at my house four days ago, and has never held up his head since, or had a desire to taste any thing, till just now, that he has a fancy for a glass of sack and a thin toast.—I think, says he, taking his hand from his forehead, it would comfort me.

If I could neither beg, borrow, nor buy such a thing, added the landlord, I would almost steal it for the poor gentleman, he is so ill. I hope in God he will still mend! continued he: we are all of us concerned for him.

-Thou art a good-natured soul I will answer for thee, cried my uncle Toby; and thou shalt drink the poor gentleman's health in a glass of sack thyself,— and take a couple of bottles with my service, and tell him he is heartily welcome to them, and to a dozen more, if they will do him good.

Though I am persuaded, said my uncle Toby, as the landlord shut the door, he is a very compassionate fellow, Trim, yet I cannot help entertaining a high opinion of his guest too. There must be something more than common in him, that, in so short a time, should win so much upon the affections of his host:And of his whole family, added the Corporal, for they are all concerned for him.— -Step after him, said my uncle Toby; do, Trim; and ask if he knows his name. I have quite forgot it truly, said the landlord, coming back into the parlour with the Corporal;—but I can ask his son again. -Has he a son with him, then? said my uncle Toby.- A boy, replied the landlord, of about eleven or twelve years of age; but the poor creature has tasted almost as little as his father: he does nothing but mourn and lament for him night and day. He has not stirred from the bed-side these two days.

My uncle Toby laid down his knife and fork, and

thrust his plate from before him, as the landlord gave him the account; and Trim, without being ordered, took away, without saying one word, and in a few minutes after brought him his pipe and tobacco.

Toby.

Stay in the room a little, said my uncle

Trim, said my uncle Toby, after he had lighted his pipe, and smok'd about a dozen whiffs.- -Trim came in front of his master, and made his bow;-my uncle Toby smok'd on, and said no more.- -Corporal! said my uncle Toby ;- -The Corporal made his bowMy uncle Toby proceeded no farther, but finished his pipe.

Trim! said my uncle Toby, I have a project in my head, as it is a bad night, of wrapping myself up warm in my roquelaure, and paying a visit to this poor gentleman.- -Your Honour's roquelaure, replied the Corporal, has not once been had on since the night before your Honour received your wound, when we mounted guard in the trenches before the gate of St. Nicholas; and, besides, it is so cold and rainy a night, that what with the roquelaure, and what with the weather, 'twill be enough to give your Honour your death, and bring on your Honour's torment in your groin.- -I fear so, replied my uncle Toby; but I am not at rest in my mind, Trim, since the account the landlord has given me.-I wish I had not known so much of this affair, added my uncle Toby, or that I had known more of it. How shall we manage it ?Leave it, an' please your Honour, to me, quoth the Corporal. I'll take my hat and stick, and go to the house and reconnoitre, and act accordingly; and I will bring your Honour a full account in an hour. Thou shalt go, Trim, said my uncle Toby; and here's a shilling for thee to drink with his servant.

-I shall