la, and her rather mysterious companion Mrs. Dingley
who lived with her in Dublin and played something like the
part of the alloys which are used in experimenting with some
metals.[103] "Presto" is Swift himself. "Prior" is the poet.
"Sir A. Fountaine" was a Norfolk squire and a great
collector of artistic things, most of which were sold not
very long ago. "Sterne" (John) was an Irish clergyman and
afterwards a bishop, but not of the same family as the
novelist. "Cousin _Dryden_ Leach" reminds us that Swift was
also a cousin of Dryden the poet. "Oroonoko" refers to Afra
Behn's introduction of the "noble savage" to English
interest. "Patrick" was Swift's very unsatisfactory
man-servant. "Bernage" a French Huguenot refugee. "George
Granville," of the family of the hero of the _Revenge_, was
a great Tory, a peer a little later with the title of
Lansdowne, and a rather better poet than Johnson thought
him. "St. John" and "Harley," if not also "Masham," should
not need annotation. Notice the seven, (literally seven!)
leagued word at the end. Swift calls their attention to it
when beginning his next instalment.

16. TO STELLA

LONDON, January 16, 1710-11.

O faith, young women, I have sent my letter N. 13, without one crumb of
an answer to any of MD's; there's for you now; and yet Presto ben't
angry faith, not a bit, only he will begin to be in pain next Irish
post, except he sees MD's little hand-writing in the glass frame at the
bar of St James's Coffeehouse, where Presto would never go but for that
purpose. Presto's at home, God help him, every night from six till bed
time, and has as little enjoyment or pleasure in life at present as any
body in the world, although in full favour with all the ministry. As
hope saved, nothing gives Presto any sort of dream of happiness, but a
letter now and then from his own dearest MD. I love the expectation of
it, and when it does not come, I comfort myself, that I have it yet to
be happy with. Yes, faith, and when I write to MD, I am happy too; it is
just as if methinks you were here, and I prating to you, and telling you
where I have been: Well, says you, Presto, come, where have you been
to-day? come, let 's hear now. And so then I answer; Ford and I were
visiting Mr Lewis, and Mr Prior, and Prior has given me a fine Plautus,
and then Ford would have had me dine at his lodgings, and so