Mrs. _Bridget_ had pawn'd all the little stock of honour a poor chambermaid was worth in the world, that she would get to the bottom of the affair in ten days; and it was built upon one of the most concessible _postulata_ in nature: namely, that whilst my uncle _Toby_ was making love to her mistress, the corporal could find nothing better to do, than make love to her---- "_And I'll let him as much as he will_, said _Bridget_, _to get it out of him_."
Friendship has two garments; an outer and an under one. _Bridget_ was serving her mistress's interests in the one--and doing the thing which most pleased herself in the other; so had as many stakes depending upon my uncle _Toby's_ wound, as the Devil himself ----Mrs. _Wadman_ had but one--and as it possibly might be her last (without discouraging Mrs. _Bridget_, or discrediting her talents) was determined to play her cards herself.
She wanted not encouragement: a child might have look'd into his hand----there was such a plainness and simplicity in his playing out what trumps he had----with such an unmistrusting ignorance of the _ten-ace_----and so naked and defenceless did he sit upon the same sopha with widow _Wadman_, that a generous heart would have wept to have won the game of him.
Let us drop the metaphor.
Mrs. Bridget had pawned all a chambermaid's little stock of honour that she would get to the bottom of the affair in ten days; assuming that whilst my uncle Toby was making love to her mistress, the corporal would make love to her.
'And I'll let him as much as he likes,' said Bridget, 'to get it out of him.'
Friendship has two garments; an outer and an under one. Bridget was serving her mistress's interests in the one - and doing the thing which most pleased herself in the other. However, with so many stakes depending upon my uncle Toby's wound, Mrs. Wadman (without discouraging Mrs. Bridget) was determined to play her cards herself.
A child might have looked into my uncle Toby's hand - there was such a plainness and simplicity in his playing what trumps he had - with such an innocent ignorance of the ten-ace - and so naked and defenceless did he sit upon the sofa with widow Wadman, that a generous heart would have wept to have won the game from him.
Let us drop the metaphor.