XVIII + 

We should begin, said my father, turning himself half round in bed, and shifting his pillow a little towards my motherвАЩs, as he opened the debateвБ†вЄЇвБ†We should begin to think, Mrs.¬†Shandy, of putting this boy into breeches.вБ†вЄЇвБ† + 

We should so,вБ†вАФsaid my mother.вБ†вЄЇвБ†We defer it, my dear, quoth my father, shamefully.вБ†вЄї + 

I think we do, Mr.¬†Shandy,вБ†вАФsaid my mother. + 

вЄЇвБ†Not but the child looks extremely well, said my father, in his vests and tunicks.вБ†вЄї + 

вЄїHe does look very well in them,вБ†вАФreplied my mother.вБ†вЄї + 

вЄЇвБ†And for that reason it would be almost a sin, added my father, to take him out of вАЩem.вБ†вЄЇвБ† + 

вЄЇвБ†It would so,вБ†вАФsaid my mother:вБ†вЄЇвБ†But indeed he is growing a very tall lad,вБ†вАФrejoined my father. + 

вЄЇвБ†He is very tall for his age, indeed,вБ†вАФsaid my mother.вБ†вЄЇвБ† + 

вЄЇвБ†I can not (making two syllables of it) imagine, quoth my father, who the deuce he takes after.вБ†вЄЇвБ† + 

I cannot conceive, for my life,вБ†вАФsaid my mother.вБ†вЄЇвБ† + 

Humph!вБ†вЄЇвБ†said my father. + 

(The dialogue ceased for a moment.) + 

вЄЇвБ†I am very short myself,вБ†вАФcontinued my father gravely. + 

You are very short, Mr.¬†Shandy,вБ†вАФsaid my mother. + 

Humph! quoth my father to himself, a second time: in muttering which, he plucked his pillow a little further from my motherвАЩsвБ†вАФand turning about again, there was an end of the debate for three minutes and a half. + 

вЄЇвБ†When he gets these breeches made, cried my father in a higher tone, heвАЩll look like a beast in вАЩem. + 

He will be very awkward in them at first, replied my mother.вБ†вЄЇвБ† + 

вЄЇвБ†And вАЩtwill be lucky, if thatвАЩs the worst onвАЩt, added my father. + 

It will be very lucky, answered my mother. + 

I suppose, replied my father,вБ†вАФmaking some pause first,вБ†вАФheвАЩll be exactly like other peopleвАЩs children.вБ†вЄЇвБ† + 

Exactly, said my mother.вБ†вЄї + 

вЄЇвБ†Though I shall be sorry for that, added my father: and so the debate stoppвАЩd again. + 

вЄЇвБ†They should be of leather, said my father, turning him about again.вБ†вАФ + 

They will last him, said my mother, the longest. + 

But he can have no linings to вАЩem, replied my father.вБ†вЄї + 

He cannot, said my mother. + 

вАЩTwere better to have them of fustian, quoth my father. + 

Nothing can be better, quoth my mother.вБ†вЄї + 

вАФExcept dimity,вБ†вАФreplied my father:вБ†вЄЇвАЩTis best of all,вБ†вАФreplied my mother. + 

вЄЇвБ†One must not give him his death, however,вБ†вАФinterrupted my father. + 

By no means, said my mother:вБ†вЄЇвБ†and so the dialogue stood still again. + 

I am resolved, however, quoth my father, breaking silence the fourth time, he shall have no pockets in them.вБ†вАФ + 

вЄЇвБ†There is no occasion for any, said my mother.вБ†вЄї + 

I mean in his coat and waistcoat,вБ†вАФcried my father. + 

вЄЇвБ†I mean so too,вБ†вАФreplied my mother. + 

вЄЇвБ†Though if he gets a gig or topвБ†вЄЇвБ†Poor souls! it is a crown and a sceptre to them,вБ†вАФthey should have where to secure it.вБ†вЄї + 

Order it as you please, Mr.¬†Shandy, replied my mother.вБ†вЄї + 

вЄЇвБ†But donвАЩt you think it right? added my father, pressing the point home to her. + 

Perfectly, said my mother, if it pleases you, Mr.¬†Shandy.вБ†вЄї + 

вЄЇвБ†ThereвАЩs for you! cried my father, losing temperвБ†вЄЇвБ†Pleases me!вБ†вЄЇвБ†You never will distinguish, Mrs.¬†Shandy, nor shall I ever teach you to do it, betwixt a point of pleasure and a point of convenience.вБ†вЄЇвБ†This was on the Sunday night:вБ†вЄЇвБ†and further this chapter sayeth not. + 