Had Dr. _Slop_ beheld _Obadiah_ a mile off, posting in a narrow lane directly towards him, at that monstrous rate, --splashing and plunging like a devil thro' thick and thin, as he approached, would not such a phnomenon, with such a vortex of mud and water moving along with it, round its axis, --have been a subject of juster apprehension to Dr. _Slop_ in his situation, than the _worst_ of _Whiston's_ comets? --To say nothing of the NUCLEUS; that is, of _Obadiah_ and the coach-horse. --In my idea, the vortex alone of 'em was enough to have involved and carried, if not the doctor, at least the doctor's pony, quite away with it. What then do you think must the terror and hydrophobia of Dr. _Slop_ have been, when you read (which you are just going to do) that he was advancing thus warily along towards _Shandy-Hall_, and had approached to within sixty yards of it, and within five yards of a sudden turn, made by an acute angle of the garden-wall, --and in the dirtiest part of a dirty lane, --when _Obadiah_ and his coach-horse turned the corner, rapid, furious, --pop, --full upon him! --Nothing, I think, in nature, can be supposed more terrible than such a rencounter, --so imprompt! so ill prepared to stand the shock of it as Dr. _Slop_ was.

If Dr. Slop had beheld Obadiah a mile off, in a narrow lane, heading directly towards him at that monstrous rate, splashing and plunging like a devil through thick and thin as he approached, would not such a phenomenon, with such a vortex of mud and water round its axis, have been more fearful to Dr. Slop than the worst of Whiston's comets?
- To say nothing of the Nucleus; that is, of Obadiah and the coach-horse. - In my idea, the vortex alone of 'em was enough to carry, if not the doctor, at least the doctor's pony, quite away. What then do you think Dr. Slop's terror must have been, when you read (which you are just going to do) that he was advancing towards Shandy-Hall, and was within five yards of a sharp angle in the dirtiest part of a dirty lane, - when Obadiah and his coach-horse turned the corner, rapid, furious - pop - full upon him!
