Explore "The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman" by Laurence Sterne on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Whatever degree of small merit the act of benignity in favour of the midwife might justly claim, or in whom that claim truly rested, -- at first sight seems not very material to this history; -- -- -certain however it was, that the gentlewoman, the parson's wife, did run away at that time with the whole of it: And yet, for my life, I cannot help thinking but that the parson himself, though he had not the good fortune to hit upon the design first, -- yet, as he heartily concurred in it the moment it was laid before him, and as heartily parted with his money to carry it into execution, had a claim to some share of it, -- if not to a full half of whatever honour was due to it.
The world at that time was pleased to determine the matter otherwise.