--But can the thing be undone, Yorick? said my father--for in my opinion, continued he, it cannot. I am a vile canonist, replied Yorick--but of all evils, holding suspence to be the most tormenting, we shall at least know the worst of this matter. I hate these great dinners--said my father--The size of the dinner is not the point, answered Yorick--we want, Mr. Shandy, to dive into the bottom of this doubt, whether the name can be changed or not--and as the beards of so many commissaries, officials, advocates, proctors, registers, and of the most eminent of our school-divines, and others, are all to meet in the middle of one table, and Didius has so pressingly invited you--who in your distress would miss such an occasion?

All that is requisite, continued Yorick, is to apprize Didius, and let him manage a conversation after dinner so as to introduce the subject.--Then my brother Toby, cried my father, clapping his two hands together, shall go with us.

--Let my old tye-wig, quoth my uncle Toby, and my laced regimentals, be hung to the fire all night, Trim.

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