The young _Beguine_, continued the corporal, had scarce given herself time to tell me "she would be my nurse," when she hastily turned about to begin the office of one, and prepare something for me----and in a short time--though I thought it a long one--she came back with flannels, &c. &c., and having fomented my knee soundly for a couple of hours, &c., and made me a thin bason of gruel for my supper--she wish'd me rest, and promised to be with me early in the morning. ----She wished me, an' please your honour, what was not to be had. My fever ran very high that night--her figure made sad disturbance within me --I was every moment cutting the world in two--to give her half of it--and every moment was I crying, That I had nothing but a knapsack and eighteen florins to share with her ----The whole night long was the fair _Beguine_, like an angel, close by my bedside, holding back the curtain and offering me cordials--and I was only awakened from my dream by her coming there at the hour promised, and giving them in reality. In truth, she was scarce ever from me; and so accustomed was I to receive life from her hands, that my heart sickened, and I lost colour when she left the room: and yet, continued the corporal (making one of the strangest reflections upon it in the world)----
----"_It was not love_"----for during the three weeks she was almost constantly with me, fomenting my knee with her hand, night and day --I can honestly say, an' please your honour--that * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * once.
That was very odd, _Trim_, quoth my uncle _Toby_.
I think so too--said Mrs. _Wadman_.
It never did, said the corporal.
'The young Beguine,' continued the corporal, 'having told me she would be my nurse, went to prepare something for me - and in a short time she came back with flannels, and having fomented my knee for a couple of hours, and made me a thin basin of gruel for my supper, she wished me rest, and promised to be with me early in the morning.
'I had little rest. My fever ran very high that night - I kept seeing her - I was every moment cutting the world in two, to give her half - and crying that I had nothing but a knapsack and eighteen florins to share with her. The whole night long, I dreamed the fair Beguine, like an angel, was close by my bedside, offering me cordials - and I was only awakened from my dreams by her coming as promised, and giving them in reality. She was scarce ever away from me; and so dependent on her was I, that my heart sickened when she left the room: and yet,' continued the corporal, making a strange observation-
'- it was not love - for during the three weeks she was almost constantly with me, fomenting my knee with her hand, night and day - I can honestly say, your honour, that * * * * * * * * * * * * * ,not once.'
'That was very odd, Trim,' quoth my uncle Toby.
'I think so too,' said Mrs. Wadman.
'It never did,' said the corporal.