——No,—I think I have advanced nothing, replied my father, making answer
to a question which _Yorick_ had taken the liberty to put to him,—I
have advanced nothing in the _Tristra-pædia_, but what is as clear as
any one proposition in _Euclid._—Reach me, _Trim_, that book from off
the scrutoir:—it has oft-times been in my mind, continued my father, to
have read it over both to you, _Yorick_, and to my brother _Toby_, and
I think it a little unfriendly in myself, in not having done it long
ago:——shall we have a short chapter or two now,—and a chapter or two
hereafter, as occasions serve; and so on, till we get through the
whole? My uncle _Toby_ and _Yorick_ made the obeisance which was
proper; and the corporal, though he was not included in the compliment,
laid his hand upon his breast, and made his bow at the same time.——The
company smiled. _Trim_, quoth my father, has paid the full price for
staying out the _entertainment._——He did not seem to relish the play,
replied _Yorick._——’Twas a Tom-fool-battle, an’ please your reverence,
of captain _Tripet_ ’s and that other officer, making so many
summersets, as they advanced;——the _French_ come on capering now and
then in that way,—but not quite so much.
My uncle _Toby_ never felt the consciousness of his existence with more
complacency than what the corporal’s, and his own reflections, made him
do at that moment;——he lighted his pipe,——_Yorick_ drew his chair
closer to the table,—_Trim_ snuff’d the candle,—my father stirr’d up
the fire,—took up the book,—cough’d twice, and begun.