I need not tell the reader, if he keeps a HOBBY-HORSE,—that a man’s HOBBY-HORSE is as tender a part as he has about him; and that these unprovoked strokes at my uncle _Toby_’s could not be unfelt by him.——No:——as I said above, my uncle _Toby_ did feel them, and very sensibly too. Pray, Sir, what said he?—How did he behave?—O, Sir!—it was great: For as soon as my father had done insulting his HOBBY-HORSE,——he turned his head without the least emotion, from Dr. _Slop_, to whom he was addressing his discourse, and looking up into my father’s face, with a countenance spread over with so much good-nature;——so placid;——so fraternal;——so inexpressibly tender towards him:—it penetrated my father to his heart: He rose up hastily from his chair, and seizing hold of both my uncle _Toby_’s hands as he spoke:—Brother _Toby_, said he:—I beg thy pardon;——forgive, I pray thee, this rash humour which my mother gave me.——My dear, dear brother, answered my uncle _Toby_, rising up by my father’s help, say no more about it;—you are heartily welcome, had it been ten times as much, brother. But ’tis ungenerous, replied my father, to hurt any man;——a brother worse;——but to hurt a brother of such gentle manners,—so unprovoking,—and so unresenting;——’tis base:——By Heaven, ’tis cowardly.—You are heartily welcome, brother, quoth my uncle _Toby_,——had it been fifty times as much.——Besides, what have I to do, my dear _Toby_, cried my father, either with your amusements or your pleasures, unless it was in my power (which it is not) to increase their measure? ——Brother _Shandy_, answered my uncle _Toby_, looking wistfully in his face,——you are much mistaken in this point:—for you do increase my pleasure very much, in begetting children for the _Shandy_ family at your time of life.—But, by that, Sir, quoth Dr. _Slop_, Mr. _Shandy_ increases his own.—Not a jot, quoth my father. C H A P. XXXVIII MY brother does it, quoth my uncle _Toby_, out of _principle._——In a family way, I suppose, quoth Dr. _Slop._——Pshaw!—said my father,—’tis not worth talking of. C H A P. XXXIX AT the end of the last chapter, my father and my uncle _Toby_ were left both standing, like _Brutus_ and _Cassius_, at the close of the scene, making up their accounts. As my father spoke the three last words,——he sat down;—my uncle _Toby_ exactly followed his example, only, that before he took his chair, he rung the bell, to order Corporal _Trim_, who was in waiting, to step home for _Stevinus_:—my uncle _Toby_’s house being no farther off than the opposite side of the way. Some men would have dropped the subject of _Stevinus_;—but my uncle _Toby_ had no resentment in his heart, and he went on with the subject, to shew my father that he had none.