My father was returned from his walk to the fishpond⁠⸺⁠and opened the parlour-door in the very height of the attack, just as my uncle Toby was marching up the glacis⁠⸺⁠Trim recovered his arms⁠⸺⁠never was my uncle Toby caught in riding at such a desperate rate in his life! Alas! my uncle Toby! had not a weightier matter called forth all the ready eloquence of my father⁠—how hadst thou then and thy poor Hobbyhorse too been insulted!

My father hung up his hat with the same air he took it down; and after giving a slight look at the disorder of the room, he took hold of one of the chairs which had formed the corporal’s breach, and placing it over-against my uncle Toby, he sat down in it, and as soon as the tea-things were taken away, and the door shut, he broke out in a lamentation as follows.