CHAPTER V

As _Tom’s_ place, an’ please your honour, was easy--and the weather warm--it put him upon thinking seriously of settling himself in the world; and as it fell out about that time, that a _Jew_ who kept a sausage shop in the same street, had the ill luck to die of a strangury, and leave his widow in possession of a rousing trade----_Tom_ thought (as everybody in _Lisbon_ was doing the best he could devise for himself) there could be no harm in offering her his service to carry it on: so without any introduction to the widow, except that of buying a pound of sausages at her shop--_Tom_ set out--counting the matter thus within himself, as he walk’d along; that let the worst come of it that could, he should at least get a pound of sausages for their worth--but, if things went well, he should be set up; inasmuch as he should get not only a pound of sausages--but a wife and--a sausage shop, an’ please your honour, into the bargain.

Every servant in the family, from high to low, wish’d _Tom_ success; and I can fancy, an’ please your honour, I see him this moment with his white dimity waistcoat and breeches, and hat a little o’ one side, passing jollily along the street, swinging his stick, with a smile and a chearful word for everybody he met: ----But alas! _Tom!_ thou smilest no more, cried the corporal, looking on one side of him upon the ground, as if he apostrophised him in his dungeon.

Poor fellow! said my uncle _Toby_, feelingly.

He was an honest, light-hearted lad, an’ please your honour, as ever blood warm’d----

----Then he resembled thee, _Trim_, said my uncle _Toby_, rapidly.

The corporal blush’d down to his fingers ends--a tear of sentimental bashfulness--another of gratitude to my uncle _Toby_--and a tear of sorrow for his brother’s misfortunes, started into his eye, and ran sweetly down his cheek together; my uncle _Toby’s_ kindled as one lamp does at another; and taking hold of the breast of _Trim’s_ coat (which had been that of _Le Fever’s_) as if to ease his lame leg, but in reality to gratify a finer feeling----he stood silent for a minute and a half; at the end of which he took his hand away, and the corporal making a bow, went on with his story of his brother and the _Jew’s_ widow.

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