—I know it to be fact, said Bridget, from credible witnesses.
———Upon my honour, said the corporal, laying his hand upon his heart and blushing, as he spoke, with honest resentment—’tis a story, Mrs. Bridget, as false as hell——Not, said Bridget, interrupting him, that either I or my mistress care a halfpenny about it, whether ’tis so or no———only that when one is married, one would chuse to have such a thing by one at least——
It was somewhat unfortunate for Mrs. Bridget, that she had begun the attack with her manual exercise; for the corporal instantly asterisks("instantly",3.1,0) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * .
[ CHAPTER XXIX]
It was like the momentary contest in the moist eye-lids of an April morning, “Whether Bridget should laugh or cry.”
She snatched up a rolling-pin——’twas ten to one, she had laugh’d——
She laid it down——she cried; and had one single tear of ’em but tasted of bitterness, full sorrowful would the corporal’s heart have been that he had used the argument; but the corporal understood the sex, a quart major to a terce at least, better than my uncle Toby, and accordingly he assailed Mrs. Bridget after this manner.
I know, Mrs. Bridget, said the corporal, giving her a most respectful kiss, that thou art good and modest by nature, and art withal so generous a girl in thyself, that, if I know thee rightly, thou would’st not wound an insect, much less the honour of so gallant and worthy a soul as my master, wast thou sure to be made a countess of——but thou hast been set on, and deluded, dear Bridget, as is often a woman’s case, “to please others more than themselves——”
Bridget’s eyes poured down at the sensations the corporal excited.
——Tell me——tell me, then, my dear Bridget, continued the corporal, taking hold of her hand, which hung down dead by her side,——and, giving a second kiss——whose suspicion has misled thee?