had it bit off.

Next morning I sent him a note, stating, that I might have been in the
wrong, but it was not intentionally; he was therefore, I could not help
thinking, too severe upon me. That notwithstanding our agreement not to
meet that day, I would call on him in my way to the city, and stay five
minutes by my watch. 'You are, (said I,) in my mind, since last night,
surrounded with cloud and storm. Let me have a glimpse of sunshine, and
go about my affairs in serenity and chearfulness.'

Upon entering his study, I was glad that he was not alone, which would
have made our meeting more awkward. There were with him, Mr. Steevens
and Mr. Tyers, both of whom I now saw for the first time. My note
had, on his own reflection, softened him, for he received me very
complacently; so that I unexpectedly found myself at ease, and joined in
the conversation.

I whispered him, 'Well, Sir, you are now in good humour. JOHNSON. 'Yes,
Sir.' I was going to leave him, and had got as far as the staircase.
He stopped me, and smiling, said, 'Get you gone IN;' a curious mode of
inviting me to stay, which I accordingly did for some time longer.

This little incidental quarrel and reconciliation, which, perhaps, I
may be thought to have detailed too minutely, must be esteemed as one of
many proofs which his friends had, that though he might be charged with
bad humour at times, he was always a good-natured man; and I have
heard Sir Joshua Reynolds, a nice and delicate observer of manners,
particularly remark, that when upon any occasion Johnson had been
rough to any person in company, he took the first opportunity of
reconciliation, by drinking to him, or addressing his discourse to him;
but if he found his dignified indirect overtures sullenly neglected, he
was quite indifferent, and considered himself as having done all that he
ought to do, and the other as now in the wrong.

I went to him early on the morning of the tenth of November. 'Now (said
he,) that you are going to marry, do not expect more from life, than
life will afford. You may often find yourself out of humour, and you may
often think your wife not studious enough to please you; and yet you
may have reason to consider yourself as upon the whole very happily
married.'

1770: AETAT. 61.]--During this year there was a total cessation of
all correspondence between Dr. Johnson and me, without any coldness on
either side, but merely from procrastination, continued from day to