twelve o’clock
When a man gives himself up to the government of a ruling passion , -- or , in other words , when his HOBBY-HORSE grows headstrong , -- farewel cool reason and fair discretion ! My uncle _ Toby 's _ wound was near well , and as soon as the surgeon recovered his surprize , and could get leave to say as much -- he told him , ' twas just beginning to incarnate ; and that if no fresh exfoliation happened , which there was no sign of , -- it would be dried up in five or six weeks . The sound of as many Olympiads , twelve hours before , would have conveyed an idea of shorter duration to my uncle _ Toby 's _ mind . -- The succession of his ideas was now rapid , -- he broiled with impatience to put his design in execution ; -- and so , without consulting farther with any soul living , -- which , by the bye , I think is right , when you are predetermined to take no one soul 's advice , -- he privately ordered _ Trim _ , his man , to pack up a bundle of lint and dressings , and hire a chariot-and-four to be at the door exactly by twelve o'clock that day , when he knew my father would be upon ' Change . -- So leaving a banknote upon the table for the surgeon 's care of him , and a letter of tender thanks for his brother 's -- he packed up his maps , his books of fortification , his instruments , & c. , and by the help of a crutch on one side , and _ Trim _ on the other , -- my uncle _ Toby _ embarked for _ Shandy-Hall _ . The reason , or rather the rise of this sudden demigration was as follows : The table in my uncle _ Toby 's _ room , and at which , the night before this change happened , he was sitting with his maps , & c. , about him -- being somewhat of the smallest , for that infinity of great and small instruments of knowledge which usually lay crowded upon it -- he had the accident , in reaching over for his tobacco-box , to throw down his compasses , and in stooping to take the compasses up , with his sleeve he threw down his case of instruments and snuffers ; -- and as the dice took a run against him , in his endeavouring to catch the snuffers in falling , -- he thrust Monsieur _ Blondel _ off the table , and Count _ de Pagan _ o'top of him . ' Twas to no purpose for a man , lame as my uncle _ Toby _ was , to think of redressing these evils by himself , -- he rung his bell for his man _ Trim _ ; ------ _ Trim _ , quoth my uncle _ Toby _ , prithee see what confusion I have here been making -- I must have some better contrivance , _ Trim _ .