As for my mother, she saw nothing at all in it, to make the least bustle about----but _Susannah_ was sufficient by herself for all the ends and purposes you could possibly have, in exporting a family secret; for she instantly imparted it by signs to _Jonathan_----and _Jonathan_ by tokens to the cook as she was basting a loin of mutton; the cook sold it with some kitchen-fat to the postillion for a groat, who truck'd it with the dairy maid for something of about the same value----and though whisper'd in the hay-loft, FAME caught the notes with her brazen trumpet, and sounded them upon the house-top --In a word, not an old woman in the village or five miles round, who did not understand the difficulties of my uncle _Toby's_ siege, and what were the secret articles which had delayed the surrender.----

As for my mother, she saw nothing in it to make a fuss about - but Susannah was the perfect means to export a family secret; for she instantly imparted it to Jonathan, and Jonathan to the cook; the cook sold it with some kitchen-fat to the postillion for a groat, who traded it with the dairy maid for something of about the same value - and though whispered in the hay-loft, Fame caught the notes with her brazen trumpet, and sounded them upon the house-top.
In a word, there was not an old woman in the village or five miles round, who did not understand the difficulties of my uncle Toby's siege, and what were the secret articles which had delayed the surrender.
