CHAPTER XV

In popped Corporal _Trim_ with _Stevinus_: --But ’twas too late, --all the discourse had been exhausted without him, and was running into a new channel. --You may take the book home again, _Trim_, said my uncle _Toby_, nodding to him.

But prithee, Corporal, quoth my father, drolling, --look first into it, and see if thou canst spy aught of a sailing chariot in it.

Corporal _Trim_, by being in the service, had learned to obey, --and not to remonstrate; --so taking the book to a side-table, and running over the leaves; An’ please your Honour, said _Trim_, I can see no such thing; --however, continued the Corporal, drolling a little in his turn, I’ll make sure work of it, an’ please your Honour; --so taking hold of the two covers of the book, one in each hand, and letting the leaves fall down, as he bent the covers back, he gave the book a good sound shake.

There is something falling out, however, said _Trim_, an’ please your Honour; --but it is not a chariot, or anything like one: --Prithee, Corporal, said my father, smiling, what is it then? --I think, answered _Trim_, stooping to take it up, ----’tis more like a sermon, ------for it begins with a text of scripture, and the chapter and verse; --and then goes on, not as a chariot, but like a sermon directly.

The company smiled.

I cannot conceive how it is possible, quoth my uncle _Toby_, for such a thing as a sermon to have got into my _Stevinus_.

I think ’tis a sermon, replied _Trim_; --but if it please your Honours, as it is a fair hand, I will read you a page; --for _Trim_, you must know, loved to hear himself read almost as well as talk.

I have ever a strong propensity, said my father, to look into things which cross my way, by such strange fatalities as these; --and as we have nothing better to do, at least till _Obadiah_ gets back, I shall be obliged to you, brother, if Dr. _Slop_ has no objection to it, to order the Corporal to give us a page or two of it, --if he is as able to do it, as he seems willing. An’ please your Honour, quoth _Trim_, I officiated two whole campaigns, in _Flanders_, as clerk to the chaplain of the regiment. ----He can read it, quoth my uncle _Toby_, as well as I can. ----_Trim_, I assure you, was the best scholar in my company, and should have had the next halberd, but for the poor fellow’s misfortune. Corporal _Trim_ laid his hand upon his heart, and made an humble bow to his master; --then laying down his hat upon the floor, and taking up the sermon in his left hand, in order to have his right at liberty, ----he advanced, nothing doubting, into the middle of the room, where he could best see, and be best seen by his audience.

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