How to parse. ...

Par. 441, 442.] CONJUNCTIONS.

253

441 Remembering that "by " means " near " of space,
but also may mean " near" of time, we can understand -
(2) "By and by," i.e. "near, very near (of time),"
or, " very soon." 1
An Adverb, when introduced emphatically, might
be emphasized by the repetition of the Verb and
Object with " and" ": "I must see him, and see him
quickly." Instead of this, "that" was often in early
times substituted for the previous phrase (just as
"it" is a preparatory substitute for a sentence or
phrase; see Par. 151):(1) " I must see him, and that quickly."
Relatives used Co-ordinately.
442,, What" is sometimes used instead of "both"
and " and " -
(1) "-What with his persuasive eloquence, and what
with the presence of his armed followers, he
soon overcame all opposition."
This might naturally be explained as a condensation of " Reckoning what he effected with," &c.;
but, more probably, "what" is to be treated as a
I Both "by and by" and " presently " (owing to the natural
habit of exaggerating one's readiness) lave come to mean much less
than they once meant. "Presently" used to mean "at once."