and so I am to be quit of any further obligation to him. So to
my office, but missing my key, which I had in my hand just now, makes me
very angry and out of order, it being a thing that I hate in others, and
more in myself, to be careless of keys, I thinking another not fit to be
trusted that leaves a key behind their hole. One thing more vexes me: my
wife writes me from the country that her boy plays the rogue there, and
she is weary of him, and complains also of her maid Sarah, of which I
am also very sorry. Being thus out of temper, I could do little at my
office, but went home and eat a bit, and so to my lodging to bed.

2nd. Up betimes and got myself ready alone, and so to my office, my mind
much troubled for my key that I lost yesterday, and so to my workmen and
put them in order, and so to my office, and we met all the morning, and
then dined at Sir W. Batten's with Sir W. Pen, and so to my office again
all the afternoon, and in the evening wrote a letter to Mr. Cooke, in
the country, in behalf of my brother Tom, to his mistress, it being the
first of my appearing in it, and if she be as Tom sets her out, it may
be very well for him. So home and eat a bit, and so to my lodging to
bed.

3rd. Up betimes, but now the days begin to shorten, and so whereas I
used to rise by four o'clock, it is not broad daylight now till after
five o'clock, so that it is after five before I do rise. To my office,
and about 8 o'clock I went over to Redriffe, and walked to Deptford,
where I found Mr. Coventry and Sir W. Pen beginning the pay, it being my
desire to be there to-day because it is the first pay that Mr. Coventry
has been at, and I would be thought to be as much with Mr. Coventry as
I can. Here we staid till noon, and by that time paid off the Breda, and
then to dinner at the tavern, where I have obtained that our commons is
not so large as they used to be, which I am glad to see. After dinner by
water to the office, and there we met and sold the Weymouth, Successe,
and Fellowship hulkes, where pleasant to see how backward men are at
first to bid; and yet when the candle is going out, how they bawl and
dispute afterwards who bid the most first. And here I observed one man
cunninger than the rest that was sure to bid the last man, and to carry
it; and inquiring the reason, he told me that just as the flame goes
out the smoke descends, which is a thing I never observed before, and by
that he do know the instant when to bid la