The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman

'Tis a point settled, -- and I mention it for the comfort of Confucius,22 who is apt to get entangled in telling a plain story -- that provided he keeps along the line of his story, -- he may go backwards and forwards as he will, -- 'tis still held to be no digression.

This being premised, I take the benefit of the act of going backwards myself.