midnight
Now from one little indulgence gained after another , in the many bleak and decemberly nights of a seven years widowhood , things had insensibly come to this pass , and for the two last years had got establish 'd into one of the ordinances of the bed-chamber -- That as soon as Mrs. _ Wadman _ was put to bed , and had got her legs stretched down to the bottom of it , of which she always gave _ Bridget _ notice -- _ Bridget _ , with all suitable decorum , having first open 'd the bed-cloaths at the feet , took hold of the half-ell of cloth we are speaking of , and having gently , and with both her hands , drawn it downwards to its furthest extension , and then contracted it again side-long by four or five even plaits , she took a large corking pin out of her sleeve , and with the point directed towards her , pinn 'd the plaits all fast together a little above the hem ; which done , she tuck 'd all in tight at the feet , and wish 'd her mistress a good night . This was constant , and without any other variation than this ; that on shivering and tempestuous nights , when _ Bridget _ untuck 'd the feet of the bed , & c. , to do this -- she consulted no thermometer but that of her own passions ; and so performed it standing -- kneeling -- or squatting , according to the different degrees of faith , hope , and charity , she was in , and bore towards her mistress that night . In every other respect , the _ etiquette _ was sacred , and might have vied with the most mechanical one of the most inflexible bed-chamber in _ Christendom _ . The first night , as soon as the corporal had conducted my uncle _ Toby _ upstairs , which was about ten -- Mrs. _ Wadman _ threw herself into her arm-chair , and crossing her left knee with her right , which formed a resting-place for her elbow , she reclin 'd her cheek upon the palm of her hand , and leaning forwards ruminated till midnight upon both sides of the question . The second night she went to her bureau , and having ordered _ Bridget _ to bring her up a couple of fresh candles and leave them upon the table , she took out her marriage-settlement , and read it over with great devotion : and the third night -LRB- which was the last of my uncle _ Toby 's _ stay -RRB- when _ Bridget _ had pull 'd down the night-shift , and was assaying to stick in the corking pin -- -- With a kick of both heels at once , but at the same time the most natural kick that could be kick 'd in her situation -- for supposing * * * * * * * * * to be the sun in its meridian , it was a north-east kick -- she kick 'd the pin out of her fingers -- the _ etiquette _ which hung upon it , down -- down it fell to the ground , and was shiver 'd into a thousand atoms . From all which it was plain that widow _ Wadman _ was in love with my uncle _ Toby _ . My uncle _ Toby 's _ head at that time was full of other matters , so that it was not till the demolition of _ Dunkirk _ , when all the other civilities of _ Europe _ were settled , that he found leisure to return this .