’Twas a most inauspicious journey; my father having had every foot of it to travel over again, and his calculation to begin afresh, when he had almost got to the end of it, by _Obadiah’s_ opening the door to acquaint him the family was out of yeast--and to ask whether he might not take the great coach-horse early in the morning and ride in search of some. --With all my heart, _Obadiah_, said my father (pursuing his journey)--take the coach-horse, and welcome. ----But he wants a shoe, poor creature! said _Obadiah_. ----Poor creature! said my uncle _Toby_, vibrating the note back again, like a string in unison. Then ride the _Scotch_ horse, quoth my father hastily. --He cannot bear a saddle upon his back, quoth _Obadiah_, for the whole world. ----The devil’s in that horse; then take PATRIOT, cried my father, and shut the door. ----PATRIOT is sold, said _Obadiah_. Here’s for you! cried my father, making a pause, and looking in my uncle _Toby’s_ face, as if the thing had not been a matter of fact. --Your worship ordered me to sell him last _April_, said _Obadiah_. --Then go on foot for your pains, cried my father ----I had much rather walk than ride, said _Obadiah_, shutting the door. What plagues, cried my father, going on with his calculation. ----But the waters are out, said _Obadiah_, --opening the door again. Till that moment, my father, who had a map of _Sanson’s_, and a book of the post-roads before him, had kept his hand upon the head of his compasses, with one foot of them fixed upon _Nevers_, the last stage he had paid for--purposing to go on from that point with his journey and calculation, as soon as _Obadiah_ quitted the room: but this second attack of _Obadiah’s_, in opening the door and laying the whole country under water, was too much. ----He let go his compasses--or rather with a mixed motion between accident and anger, he threw them upon the table; and then there was nothing for him to do, but to return back to _Calais_ (like many others) as wise as he had set out.