IN popped Corporal _Trim_ with _Stevinus_:—But ’twas too late,—all the
discourse had been exhausted without him, and was running into a new
channel.
—You may take the book home again, _Trim_, said my uncle _Toby_,
nodding to him.
But prithee, Corporal, quoth my father, drolling,—look first into it,
and see if thou canst spy aught of a sailing chariot in it.
Corporal _Trim_, by being in the service, had learned to obey,—and not
to remonstrate,—so taking the book to a side-table, and running over
the leaves; An’ please your Honour, said _Trim_, I can see no such
thing;—however, continued the Corporal, drolling a little in his turn,
I’ll make sure work of it, an’ please your Honour;—so taking hold of
the two covers of the book, one in each hand, and letting the leaves
fall down as he bent the covers back, he gave the book a good sound
shake.
There is something falling out, however, said _Trim_, an’ please your
Honour;—but it is not a chariot, or any thing like one:—Prithee,
Corporal, said my father, smiling, what is it then?—I think, answered
_Trim_, stooping to take it up,——’tis more like a sermon,——for it
begins with a text of scripture, and the chapter and verse;—and then
goes on, not as a chariot, but like a sermon directly.
The company smiled.
I cannot conceive how it is possible, quoth my uncle _Toby_, for such a
thing as a sermon to have got into my _Stevinus._
I think ’tis a sermon, replied _Trim_:—but if it please your Honours,
as it is a fair hand, I will read you a page;—for _Trim_, you must
know, loved to hear himself read almost as well as talk.
I have ever a strong propensity, said my father, to look into things
which cross my way, by such strange fatalities as these;—and as we have
nothing better to do, at least till _Obadiah_ gets back, I shall be
obliged to you, brother, if Dr. _Slop_ has no objection to it, to order
the Corporal to give us a page or two of it,—if he is as able to do it,
as he seems willing. An’ please your honour, quoth _Trim_, I officiated
two whole campaigns, in _Flanders_, as clerk to the chaplain of the
regiment.——He can read it, quoth my uncle _Toby_, as well as I
can.——_Trim_, I assure you, was the best scholar in my company, and
should have had the next halberd, but for the poor fellow’s misfortune.
Corporal _Trim_ laid his hand upon his heart, and made an humble bow to
his master; then laying down his hat upon the floor, and taking up the
sermon in his left hand, in order to have his right at liberty,—he
advanced, nothing doubting, into the middle of the room, where he could
best see, and be best seen by his audience.