第86章 Chapter X.

--And pray, good woman, after all, will you take upon you to say, it may not be the child's hip, as well as the child's head?--'Tis most certainly the head, replied the midwife. Because, continued Dr. Slop (turning to my father) as positive as these old ladies generally are--'tis a point very difficult to know--and yet of the greatest consequence to be known;--because, Sir, if the hip is mistaken for the head--there is a possibility (if it is a boy) that the forceps. . ..

--What the possibility was, Dr. Slop whispered very low to my father, and then to my uncle Toby.--There is no such danger, continued he, with the head.--No, in truth quoth my father--but when your possibility has taken place at the hip--you may as well take off the head too.

--It is morally impossible the reader should understand this--'tis enough Dr. Slop understood it;--so taking the green baize bag in his hand, with the help of Obadiah's pumps, he tripp'd pretty nimbly, for a man of his size, across the room to the door--and from the door was shewn the way, by the good old midwife, to my mother's apartments.