MY father was returned from his walk to the fish-pond——and opened the
parlour-door in the very height of the attack, just as my uncle _Toby_
was marching up the glacis——_Trim_ recovered his arms——never was my
uncle _Toby_ caught in riding at such a desperate rate in his life!
Alas! my uncle _Toby!_ had not a weightier matter called forth all the
ready eloquence of my father—how hadst thou then and thy poor
HOBBY-HORSE too been insulted!
My father hung up his hat with the same air he took it down; and after
giving a slight look at the disorder of the room, he took hold of one
of the chairs which had formed the corporal’s breach, and placing it
over-against my uncle _Toby_, he sat down in it, and as soon as the
tea-things were taken away, and the door shut, he broke out in a
lamentation as follows: