I design to engage Ben Tooke, and then receive the parchment
from her.--I gave Mr. Dopping a copy of Prior's verses on Mr. Harley; he
sent them yesterday to Ireland, so go look for them, for I won't be at
the trouble to transcribe them here. They will be printed in a day or
two. Give my hearty service to Stoyte and Catherine: upon my word I love
them dearly, and desire you will tell them so: pray desire Goody Stoyte
not to let Mrs. Walls and Mrs. Johnson cheat her of her money at ombre,
but assure her from me that she is a bungler. Dine with her to-day, and
tell her so, and drink my health, and good voyage, and speedy return,
and so you're a rogue.
5. Morning. Now let us proceed to examine a saucy letter from one Madam
MD.--God Almighty bless poor dear Stella, and send her a great many
birthdays, all happy, and healthy, and wealthy, and with me ever
together, and never asunder again, unless by chance. When I find you are
happy or merry there, it makes me so here, and I can hardly imagine you
absent when I am reading your letter, or writing to you. No, faith, you
are just here upon this little paper, and therefore I see and talk with
you every evening constantly, and sometimes in the morning, but
not always in the morning, because that is not so modest to young
ladies.--What, you would fain palm a letter on me more than you sent:
and I, like a fool, must look over all yours, to see whether this was
really N.12, or more. (Patrick has this moment brought me letters from
the Bishop of Clogher and Parvisol; my heart was at my mouth for fear of
one from MD; what a disgrace would it be to have two of yours to answer
together! But, faith, this shall go to-night, for fear; and then come
when it will, I defy it.) No, you are not naughty at all, write when you
are disposed. And so the Dean told you the story of Mr. Harley from the
Archbishop; I warrant it never spoiled your supper, or broke off your
game. Nor yet, have not you the box? I wish Mrs. Edgworth had the -----.
But you have it now, I suppose; and is the chocolate good, or has the
tobacco spoilt it? Leigh stays till Sterne has done his business, no
longer; and when that will be, God knows: I befriend him as much as I
can, but Harley's accident stops that as well as all things else. You
guess, Madam Dingley, that I shall stay a round twelvemonth; as hope
saved, I would come over, if I could, this minute; but we will talk of
that by and by. Your affair of Vedeau I have told
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