nd anon calls him back to stay the reading of:--In
short there is no end of it;--for my own part, I declare I have been at
it these six weeks, making all the speed I possibly could,--and am not
yet born:--I have just been able, and that's all, to tell you when it
happen'd, but not how;--so that you see the thing is yet far from being
accomplished.

These unforeseen stoppages, which I own I had no conception of when I
first set out;--but which, I am convinced now, will rather increase than
diminish as I advance,--have struck out a hint which I am resolved to
follow;--and that is,--not to be in a hurry;--but to go on leisurely,
writing and publishing two volumes of my life every year;--which, if I
am suffered to go on quietly, and can make a tolerable bargain with my
bookseller, I shall continue to do as long as I live.

Chapter 1.XV.

The article in my mother's marriage-settlement, which I told the reader
I was at the pains to search for, and which, now that I have found it, I
think proper to lay before him,--is so much more fully express'd in
the deed itself, than ever I can pretend to do it, that it would be
barbarity to take it out of the lawyer's hand:--It is as follows.

'And this Indenture further witnesseth, That the said Walter Shandy,
merchant, in consideration of the said intended marriage to be had,
and, by God's blessing, to be well and truly solemnized and consummated
between the said Walter Shandy and Elizabeth Mollineux aforesaid, and
divers other good and valuable causes and considerations him thereunto
specially moving,--doth grant, covenant, condescend, consent, conclude,
bargain, and fully agree to and with John Dixon, and James Turner,
Esqrs. the above-named Trustees, &c. &c.--to wit,--That in case it
should hereafter so fall out, chance, happen, or otherwise come to
pass,--That the said Walter Shandy, merchant, shall have left off
business before the time or times, that the said Elizabeth Mollineux
shall, according to the course of nature, or otherwise, have left off
bearing and bringing forth children;--and that, in consequence of the
said Walter Shandy having so left off business, he shall in despight,
and against the free-will, consent, and good-liking of the said
Elizabeth Mollineux,--make a departure from the city of London, in order
to retire to, and dwell upon, his estate at Shandy Hall, in the county
of..., or at any other country-seat, castle, hall, mansion-house,
messuage or grainge