He is angry that I have declined to breakfast with him. I am sure that I
should not have been at my own liberty if I had. I bid Dorcas tell him,
that I desired to have this day to myself. I would see him in the
morning as early as he pleased. She says, she knows not what ails him,
but that he is out of humour with every body.

He has sent again in a peremptory manner. He warns me of Singleton. I
sent him word, that if he was not afraid of Singleton at the playhouse
last night, I need not at church to-day: so many churches to one
playhouse. I have accepted of his servant's proposed attendance. But he
is quite displeased, it seems. I don't care. I will not be perpetually
at his insolent beck.--Adieu my dear, till I return. The chair waits.
He won't stop me, sure, as I go down to it.

***

I did not see him as I went down. He is, it seems, excessively out of
humour. Dorcas says, not with me neither, she believes: but something
has vexed him. This is perhaps to make me dine with him. But I will
not, if I can help it. I shan't get rid of him for the rest of the day,
if I do.

***

He was very earnest to dine with me. But I was resolved to carry this
one small point; and so denied to dine myself. And indeed I was
endeavouring to write to my cousin Morden; and had begun three different
times, without being able to please myself.

He was very busy in writing, Dorcas says; and pursued it without dining,
because I denied him my company.

H afterwards demanded, as I may say, to be admitted to afternoon-tea with
me: and appealed by Dorcas to his behaviour to me last night; as if I
sent him word by her, he thought he had a merit in being unexceptionable.
However, I repeated my promise to meet him as early as he pleased in the
morning, or to breakfast with him.

Dorcas says, he raved: I heard him loud, and I heard his servant fly from
him, as I thought. You, my dearest friend, say, in one of yours,* that
you must have somebody to be angry at, when your mother sets you up. I
should be very loth to draw comparisons; but the workings of passion,
when indulged, are but too much alike, whether in man or woman.

* See Letter X. of this volume, Parag. 2.

***

He has just sent me word, that he insists upon supping with me. As we
had been in a good train for several days past, I thought it not prudent
to break with him for little matters. Yet, to be, in a manner,
threatened into his will, I