his company, I hope
you will be good enough to forego it for a day, as Mr. Dilly is a very
worthy man, has frequently had agreeable parties at his house for Dr.
Johnson, and will be vexed if the Doctor neglects him to-day. And then,
Madam, be pleased to consider my situation; I carried the message, and I
assured Mr. Dilly that Dr. Johnson was to come; and no doubt he has made
a dinner, and invited a company, and boasted of the honor he expected to
have. I shall be quite disgraced if the Doctor is not there." She
gradually softened to my solicitations, which were certainly as earnest
as most entreaties to ladies upon any occasion, and was graciously
pleased to empower me to tell Dr. Johnson, "That all things considered,
she thought he should certainly go." I flew back to him, still in dust,
and careless of what should be the event, "indifferent in his choice to
go or stay"; but as soon as I had announced to him Mrs. Williams's
consent, he roared, "Frank, a clean shirt," and was very soon dressed.
When I had him fairly seated in a hackney-coach with me, I exulted as
much as a fortune-hunter who has got an heiress into a post-chaise with
him to set out for Gretna Green.

When we entered Mr. Dilly's drawing room, he found himself in the midst
of a company he did not know. I kept myself snug and silent, watching
how he would conduct himself. I observed him whispering to Mr. Dilly,
"Who is that gentleman, Sir?"--"Mr. Arthur Lee." _Johnson._ "Too, too,
too" (under his breath), which was one of his habitual mutterings. Mr.
Arthur Lee could not but be very obnoxious to Johnson, for he was not
only a _patriot_, but an _American_. He was afterwards minister from the
United States at the court of Madrid. "And who is the gentleman in
lace?"--"Mr. Wilkes, Sir." This information confounded him still more;
he had some difficulty to restrain himself, and, taking up a book, sat
down upon a window-seat and read, or at least kept his eye upon it
intently for some time, till he composed himself. His feelings, I dare
say, were awkward enough. But he had no doubt recollected his having
rated me for supposing that he could be at all disconcerted by any
company, and he, therefore, resolutely set himself to behave quite as an
easy man of the world, who could adapt himself at once to the
disposition and manners of those whom he might chance to meet.

The cheering sound of "Dinner is upon the table," dissolved his reverie,
and we _all_ sat down w