on with it for a while.

Let the reader imagine then, that Dr. Slop has told his tale--and in
what words, and with what aggravations, his fancy chooses;--Let him
suppose, that Obadiah has told his tale also, and with such rueful looks
of affected concern, as he thinks best will contrast the two figures as
they stand by each other.--Let him imagine, that my father has
stepped up stairs to see my mother.--And, to conclude this work of
imagination,--let him imagine the doctor washed,--rubbed down, and
condoled,--felicitated,--got into a pair of Obadiah's pumps, stepping
forwards towards the door, upon the very point of entering upon action.

Truce!--truce, good Dr. Slop!--stay thy obstetrick hand;--return it
safe into thy bosom to keep it warm;--little dost thou know what
obstacles,--little dost thou think what hidden causes, retard its
operation!--Hast thou, Dr. Slop,--hast thou been entrusted with the
secret articles of the solemn treaty which has brought thee into this
place?--Art thou aware that at this instant, a daughter of Lucina is put
obstetrically over thy head? Alas!--'tis too true.--Besides, great son
of Pilumnus! what canst thou do?--Thou hast come forth unarm'd;--thou
hast left thy tire-tete,--thy new-invented forceps,--thy crotchet,--thy
squirt, and all thy instruments of salvation and deliverance, behind
thee,--By Heaven! at this moment they are hanging up in a green bays
bag, betwixt thy two pistols, at the bed's head!--Ring;--call;--send
Obadiah back upon the coach-horse to bring them with all speed.

--Make great haste, Obadiah, quoth my father, and I'll give thee a
crown! and quoth my uncle Toby, I'll give him another.

Chapter 1.XXXVII.

Your sudden and unexpected arrival, quoth my uncle Toby, addressing
himself to Dr. Slop, (all three of them sitting down to the fire
together, as my uncle Toby began to speak)--instantly brought the great
Stevinus into my head, who, you must know, is a favourite author with
me.--Then, added my father, making use of the argument Ad Crumenam,--I
will lay twenty guineas to a single crown-piece (which will serve to
give away to Obadiah when he gets back) that this same Stevinus was some
engineer or other--or has wrote something or other, either directly or
indirectly, upon the science of fortification.

He has so,--replied my uncle Toby.--I knew it, said my father, though,
for the soul of me, I cannot see what kind of connection there can
be betwixt Dr. Slop's s