e
me for? Do you think I am so ignorant of the world as to imagine that I
am to prescribe to a gentleman what company he is to have at his table?"
_Boswell._ "I beg your pardon, Sir, for wishing to prevent you from
meeting people whom you might not like. Perhaps he may have some of what
he calls his patriotic friends with him." _Johnson._ "Well, Sir, and
what then? What care I for his _patriotic friends_? Poh!" _Boswell._ "I
should not be surprised to find Jack Wilkes there." _Johnson._ "And if
Jack Wilkes _should_ be there, what is that to _me_, Sir? My dear
friend, let us have no more of this. I am sorry to be angry with you;
but really it is treating me strangely to talk to me as if I could not
meet any company whatever, occasionally." _Boswell._ "Pray forgive me,
Sir, I meant well. But you shall meet whoever comes, for me." Thus I
secured him, and told Dilly that he would find him very well pleased to
be one of his guests on the day appointed.

Upon the much expected Wednesday, I called on him about half an hour
before dinner, as I often did when we were to dine out together, to see
that he was ready in time, and to accompany him. I found him buffeting
his books, as upon a former occasion, covered with dust, and making no
preparation for going abroad. "How is this, Sir?" said I. "Don't you
recollect that you are to dine at Mr. Dilly's?" _Johnson._ "Sir, I did
not think of going to Dilly's; it went out of my head. I have ordered
dinner at home with Mrs. Williams." _Boswell._ "But, my dear Sir, you
know you were engaged to Mr. Dilly, and I told him so. He will expect
you, and will be much disappointed if you don't come." _Johnson._ "You
must talk to Mrs Williams about this."

Here was a sad dilemma. I feared that what I was so confident I had
secured would yet be frustrated. He had accustomed himself to show Mrs.
Williams such a degree of humane attention, as frequently imposed some
restraint upon him; and I knew that if she should be obstinate, he would
not stir. I hastened down stairs to the blind lady's room, and told her
I was in great uneasiness, for Dr. Johnson had engaged to me to dine
this day at Mr. Dilly's, but that he had told me he had forgotten his
engagement, and had ordered dinner at home. "Yes, Sir," said she,
pretty peevishly, "Dr. Johnson is to dine at home." "Madam," said I,
"his respect for you is such, that I know he will not leave you, unless
you absolutely desire it. But as you have so much of