XII
вАФAnd how does your mistress? cried my father, taking the same step over again from the landing, and calling to Susannah, whom he saw passing by the foot of the stairs with a huge pincushion in her handвБ†вАФhow does your mistress? As well, said Susannah, tripping by, but without looking up, as can be expected.вБ†вАФWhat a fool am I! said my father, drawing his leg back againвБ†вАФlet things be as they will, brother Toby, вАЩtis ever the precise answerвБ†вЄЇвБ†And how is the child, pray?вБ†вЄЇвБ†No answer. And where is Dr.¬†Slop? added my father, raising his voice aloud, and looking over the ballustersвБ†вАФSusannah was out of hearing.
Of all the riddles of a married life, said my father, crossing the landing in order to set his back against the wall, whilst he propounded it to my uncle TobyвБ†вЄЇвБ†of all the puzzling riddles, said he, in a marriage state,вБ†вЄЇвБ†of which you may trust me, brother Toby, there are more asses loads than all JobвАЩs stock of asses could have carriedвБ†вЄЇвБ†there is not one that has more intricacies in it than thisвБ†вАФthat from the very moment the mistress of the house is brought to bed, every female in it, from my ladyвАЩs gentlewoman down to the cinder-wench, becomes an inch taller for it; and give themselves more airs upon that single inch, than all their other inches put together.
I think rather, replied my uncle Toby, that вАЩtis we who sink an inch lower.вБ†вАФIf I meet but a woman with childвБ†вАФI do it.вБ†вАФвАЩTis a heavy tax upon that half of our fellow-creatures, brother Shandy, said my uncle TobyвБ†вАФвАЩTis a piteous burden upon вАЩem, continued he, shaking his headвБ†вАФYes, yes, вАЩtis a painful thingвБ†вАФsaid my father, shaking his head tooвБ†вЄЇвБ†but certainly since shaking of heads came into fashion, never did two heads shake together, in concert, from two such different springs.
God bless
Deuce take
}
вАЩem allвБ†вЄїsaid my uncle Toby and my father, each to himself.