⸺If I could neither beg, borrow, or 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 bedside 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.
⸺Stay in the room a little, said my uncle Toby .
Trim! ⸺said my uncle Toby , after he lighted his pipe, and smoak’d about a dozen whiffs.⸺ Trim came in front of his master, and made