, to be rid of this
house; for the trade will not agree with a young widow, that is a little
handsome, at least ordinary people think her so. Being well satisfied
with her answer, she anon went away, and I to my closet to make a few
more experiments of my notions in musique, and so then my wife and I to
walk in the garden, and then home to supper and to bed.

23rd. Up, and after discoursing with my wife about many things touching
this day's dinner, I abroad, and first to the taverne to pay what I owe
there, but missed of seeing the mistress of the house, and there
bespoke wine for dinner, and so away thence, and to Bishopsgate Streete,
thinking to have found a Harpsicon-maker that used to live there before
the fire, but he is gone, and I have a mind forthwith to have a little
Harpsicon made me to confirm and help me in my musique notions, which my
head is now-a-days full of, and I do believe will come to something that
is very good. Thence to White Hall, expecting to have heard the
Bishop of Lincolne, my friend, preach, for so I understood he would do
yesterday, but was mistaken, and therefore away presently back again,
and there find everything in good order against dinner, and at noon come
Mr. Pierce and she, and Mrs. Manuel, the Jew's wife, and Mrs. Corbet,
and Mrs. Pierces boy and girl. But we are defeated of Knepp, by her
being forced to act to-day, and also of Harris, which did trouble me,
they being my chief guests. However, I had an extraordinary good dinner,
and the better because dressed by my own servants, and were mighty
merry; and here was Mr. Pelling by chance come and dined with me; and
after sitting long at dinner, I had a barge ready at Tower-wharfe, to
take us in, and so we went, all of us, up as high as Barne-Elms, a very
fine day, and all the way sang; and Mrs. Manuel sings very finely, and
is a mighty discreet, sober-carriaged woman, that both my wife and I are
mightily taken with her, and sings well, and without importunity or the
contrary. At Barne-Elms we walked round, and then to the barge again,
and had much merry talk, and good singing; and come before it was dark
to the New Exchange stairs, and there landed, and walked up to Mrs.
Pierces, where we sat awhile, and then up to their dining-room. And so,
having a violin and theorbo, did fall to dance, here being also Mrs.
Floyd come hither, and by and by Mr. Harris. But there being so few of
us that could dance, and my wife not being very well, we