The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman

The sun looked bright the morning after, to every eye in the village but Le Fever's and his afflicted son's; the hand of death press'd heavy upon his eyelids, -- -- -and hardly could the wheel at the cistern turn round its circle, -- when my uncle Toby, who had rose up an hour before his wonted time, entered the lieutenant's room, and without preface or apology, sat himself down upon the chair by the bedside, and, independently of all modes and customs, opened the curtain in the manner an old friend and brother officer would have done it, and asked him how he did, -- how he had rested in the night, -- what was his complaint, -- where was his pain, -- and what he could do to help him: -- -- -and without giving him time to answer any one of the enquiries, went on, and told him of the little plan which he had been concerting with the corporal the night before for him.

-- -- -