——When the fair _Beguine_ came in to see me.
My wound was then in a fair way of doing well——the inflammation had
been gone off for some time, but it was succeeded with an itching both
above and below my knee, so insufferable, that I had not shut my eyes
the whole night for it.
Let me see it, said she, kneeling down upon the ground parallel to my
knee, and laying her hand upon the part below it——it only wants rubbing
a little, said the _Beguine;_ so covering it with the bed-clothes, she
began with the fore-finger of her right hand to rub under my knee,
guiding her fore-finger backwards and forwards by the edge of the
flannel which kept on the dressing.
In five or six minutes I felt slightly the end of her second finger—and
presently it was laid flat with the other, and she continued rubbing in
that way round and round for a good while; it then came into my head,
that I should fall in love—I blush’d when I saw how white a hand she
had—I shall never, an’ please your honour, behold another hand so white
whilst I live——
——Not in that place, said my uncle _Toby_——
Though it was the most serious despair in nature to the corporal—he
could not forbear smiling.
The young _Beguine_, continued the corporal, perceiving it was of great
service to me—from rubbing for some time, with two fingers—proceeded to
rub at length, with three—till by little and little she brought down
the fourth, and then rubb’d with her whole hand: I will never say
another word, an’ please your honour, upon hands again—but it was
softer than sattin——
——Prithee, _Trim_, commend it as much as thou wilt, said my uncle
_Toby;_ I shall hear thy story with the more delight——The corporal
thank’d his master most unfeignedly; but having nothing to say upon the
_Beguine_’s hand but the same over again——he proceeded to the effects
of it.
The fair _Beguine_, said the corporal, continued rubbing with her whole
hand under my knee—till I fear’d her zeal would weary her——“I would do
a thousand times more,” said she, “for the love of Christ”——In saying
which, she pass’d her hand across the flannel, to the part above my
knee, which I had equally complain’d of, and rubb’d it also.