This was an eternal source of misery to my father, and broke the neck, at the first setting out, of more good dialogues between them, than could have done the most petulant contradiction----the few which survived were the better for the _cuvetts_----
--"They are foolish things;" said my mother.
----Particularly the _cuvetts_; replied my father.
'Tis enough--he tasted the sweet of triumph--and went on.
--Not that they are, properly speaking, Mrs. _Wadman's_ premises, said my father, partly correcting himself--because she is but tenant for life----
----That makes a great difference--said my mother----
--In a fool's head, replied my father----
Unless she should happen to have a child--said my mother--
----But she must persuade my brother _Toby_ first to get her one--
----To be sure, Mr. _Shandy_, quoth my mother.

This was an eternal source of misery to my father, and cut short more good dialogues between them, than the most petulant contradiction could have done. The few which survived were the better for the cuvetts - the ditches within ditches.
'They are foolish things;' said my mother.
'Particularly the cuvetts,' replied my father.
He tasted the sweet of triumph - and went on.
'Not that they are, properly speaking, Mrs. Wadman's premises,' said my father, 'because she is only tenant for life.'
'That makes a great difference,' said my mother.
'In a fool's head,' replied my father.
'Unless she should happen to have a child,' said my mother.
'But she must persuade my brother Toby first to get her one.'
'To be sure,' quoth my mother.
