till after ten.  Tisdall[21] and his family are gone from hence, upon some wrangle with the family.  Yesterday I had two letters brought me to Mr. Masham’s; one from Ford, and t’other from our little MD, N.21.  I would not tell you till to-day, because I would not.  I won’t answer it till the next, because I have slipped two days by being at Windsor, which I must recover here.  Well, sirrahs, I must go to sleep.  The roads were as dry as at midsummer to-day.  This letter shall go to-morrow.

9.  Morning.  It rains hard this morning.  I suppose our fair weather is now at an end.  I think I’ll put on my waistcoat to-day:  shall I?  Well, I will then, to please MD.  I think of dining at home to-day upon a chop and a pot.  The town continues yet very thin.  Lord Strafford is gone to Holland, to tell them what we have done here toward a peace.  We shall soon hear what the Dutch say, and how they take it.  My humble service to Mrs. Walls, Mrs. Stoyte, and Catherine.—­Morrow, dearest sirrahs, and farewell; and God Almighty bless MD, poor little dear MD, for so I mean, and Presto too.  I’ll write to you again to-night, that is, I’ll begin my next letter.  Farewell, etc.

This little bit belongs to MD; we must always write on the margin:[22] you are saucy rogues.

LETTER 32.

London, Oct. 9, 1711.

I was forced to lie down at twelve to-day, and mend my night’s sleep:  I slept till after two, and then sent for a bit of mutton and pot of ale from the next cook’s shop, and had no stomach.  I went out at four, and called to see Biddy Floyd, which I had not done these three months:  she is something marked, but has recovered her complexion quite, and looks very well.  Then I sat the evening with Mrs. Vanhomrigh, and drank coffee, and ate an egg.  I likewise took a new lodging to-day, not liking a ground-floor, nor the ill smell, and other circumstances.  I lodge, or shall lodge, by Leicester Fields, and pay ten shillings a week; that won’t hold out long, faith.  I shall lie here but one night more.  It rained terribly till one o’clock to-day.  I lie, for I shall lie here two nights, till Thursday, and then remove.  Did I tell you that my friend Mrs. Barton has a brother[1] drowned, that went on the expedition with Jack Hill?  He was a lieutenant-colonel, and a coxcomb; and she keeps her chamber in form, and the servants say she receives no messages.- -Answer MD’s letter, Presto, d’ye hear?  No, says Presto, I won’t yet, I’m busy; you’re a saucy rogue.  Who talks?