XXXIX + 

As Susannah was informed by an express from Mrs.¬†Bridget, of my uncle TobyвАЩs falling in love with her mistress fifteen days before it happened,вБ†вАФthe contents of which express, Susannah communicated to my mother the next day,вБ†вАФit has just given me an opportunity of entering upon my uncle TobyвАЩs amours a fortnight before their existence. + 

I have an article of news to tell you, Mr.¬†Shandy, quoth my mother, which will surprise you greatly.вБ†вЄЇвБ† + 

Now my father was then holding one of his second beds of justice, and was musing within himself about the hardships of matrimony, as my mother broke silence.вБ†вЄї + 

вАЬвБ†вЄЇвБ†My brother Toby, quoth she, is going to be married to Mrs.¬†Wadman.вАЭ + 

вЄЇвБ†Then he will never, quoth my father, be able to lie diagonally in his bed again as long as he lives. + 

It was a consuming vexation to my father, that my mother never asked the meaning of a thing she did not understand. + 

вЄЇвБ†That she is not a woman of science, my father would sayвБ†вАФis her misfortuneвБ†вАФbut she might ask a question.вБ†вАФ + 

My mother never did.вБ†вЄЇвБ†In short, she went out of the world at last without knowing whether it turned round, or stood still.вБ†вЄЇвБ†My father had officiously told her above a thousand times which way it was,вБ†вАФbut she always forgot. + 

For these reasons, a discourse seldom went on much further betwixt them, than a proposition,вБ†вАФa reply, and a rejoinder; at the end of which, it generally took breath for a few minutes (as in the affair of the breeches), and then went on again. + 

If he marries, вАЩtwill be the worse for us,вБ†вАФquoth my mother. + 

Not a cherrystone, said my father,вБ†вАФhe may as well batter away his means upon that, as anything else. + 

вЄЇвБ†To be sure, said my mother: so here ended the proposition,вБ†вАФthe reply,вБ†вАФand the rejoinder, I told you of. + 

It will be some amusement to him, too,вБ†вЄЇвБ†said my father. + 

A very great one, answered my mother, if he should have children.вБ†вЄЇвБ† + 

вЄЇвБ†Lord have mercy upon me,вБ†вАФsaid my father to himselfвБ†вЄЇвБ†* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * + 