I hear. So in spite of my Fear
of Unprotected Females, &c., he might do. Perhaps you might see him one
day as you pass the Unprotected one's Grounds, and hear. I have hardly
work enough for one Whole Man, as is the case with my Neighbour, who yet
is a Female. . . ."

"'BECKY'S,' _Saturday_, _May_ 18, '67. [Ib.]

". . . Posh is very busy with his Lugger [the 'Meum and Tuum'], which
will be decked by the middle of next Week. I have just left him: having
caught him with a Pot of white paint (some of which was on his Face), and
having made him dine on cold Beef in the Suffolk Hotel Bowling-green,
washing all down with two Tankards of Bullard's Ale. He was not
displeased to dine abroad; as this is Saturday, when he says there are
apt to be 'Squalls' at home, because of washing, &c. His little Boy is
on the mending hand: safe, indeed, I hope, and believe, unless they let
him into Draughts of Air: which I have warned them against.

"Yesterday we went to Yarmouth, and bought a Boat for the Lugger, and
paraded the Town, and dined at the Star Tavern (_Beefsteak for one_), and
looked into the Great Church: where when Posh pulled off his Cap, and
stood erect but not irreverent, I thought he looked as good an Image of
the Mould that Man was originally cast in, as you may chance to see in
the Temple of _The Maker_ in these Days.

"The Artillery were blazing away on the Denes; and the little
Band-master, who played with his Troop here last summer, joined us as we
were walking, and told Posh not to lag behind, for he was not at all
ashamed to be seen walking with him. The little well-meaning Ass! . . ."

"LOWESTOFT, _Longest Day_, '67.
['Letters,' p. 309.]

". . . As to talking over Posh, etc., with me, there is plenty of time
for that; indeed, as yet we _cannot_ come to a final estimate of the
Property, since all is not yet bought: sails, cables, warps, Ballast, &c.
As to his services hitherto, I yesterday gave him 20 pounds, telling him
that _I_ couldn't compute how much he had done for me: nor could he, he
said, and would be contented with anything.

"No cloven Hoof as yet! It was his Birthday (yesterday), and we all had
a walk to the new Lugger, and then to Mutford, where we had a fresh-water
Sail on the Broad: Ale at the Inn, and Punch in the 'Suffolk' Bowling-
green at night. Oh! 'tis a pleasant Time. But it passes, passes. I
have not been out to Sea once since we've been here; only loitering about
on shore.