n agitation--I
evade of late all violent exercises--I am never weary with walking--but
from my youth, I never looked to ride upon pavements. I love to lie
hard and alone, and even without my wife--This last word may stagger the
faith of the world--but remember, 'La Vraisemblance' (as Bayle says in
the affair of Liceti) 'n'est pas toujours du Cote de la Verite.' And so
much for sleep.

Chapter 2.LI.

If my wife will but venture him--brother Toby, Trismegistus shall
be dress'd and brought down to us, whilst you and I are getting our
breakfasts together.--

--Go, tell Susannah, Obadiah, to step here.

She is run up stairs, answered Obadiah, this very instant, sobbing and
crying, and wringing her hands as if her heart would break.

We shall have a rare month of it, said my father, turning his head from
Obadiah, and looking wistfully in my uncle Toby's face for some time--we
shall have a devilish month of it, brother Toby, said my father,
setting his arms a'kimbo, and shaking his head; fire, water, women,
wind--brother Toby!--'Tis some misfortune, quoth my uncle Toby.--That
it is, cried my father--to have so many jarring elements breaking loose,
and riding triumph in every corner of a gentleman's house--Little
boots it to the peace of a family, brother Toby, that you and I possess
ourselves, and sit here silent and unmoved--whilst such a storm is
whistling over our heads.--

And what's the matter, Susannah? They have called the child
Tristram--and my mistress is just got out of an hysterick fit
about it--No!--'tis not my fault, said Susannah--I told him it was
Tristram-gistus.

--Make tea for yourself, brother Toby, said my father, taking down his
hat--but how different from the sallies and agitations of voice and
members which a common reader would imagine!

--For he spake in the sweetest modulation--and took down his hat with
the genteelest movement of limbs, that ever affliction harmonized and
attuned together.

--Go to the bowling-green for corporal Trim, said my uncle Toby,
speaking to Obadiah, as soon as my father left the room.

Chapter 2.LII.

When the misfortune of my Nose fell so heavily upon my father's
head;--the reader remembers that he walked instantly up stairs, and cast
himself down upon his bed; and from hence, unless he has a great insight
into human nature, he will be apt to expect a rotation of the same
ascending and descending movements from him, upon this misfortune of my
Name;--