to the 'Change, in my going met with Luellin and told him how I had
received a letter and bill for L50 from Mr. Deering, and delivered it to
him, which he told me he would receive for me. To which I consented,
though professed not to desire it if he do not consider himself
sufficiently able by the service I have done, and that it is rather my
desire to have nothing till he be further sensible of my service. From
the 'Change I brought him home and dined with us, and after dinner I took
my wife out, for I do find that I am not able to conquer myself as to
going to plays till I come to some new vowe concerning it, and that I am
now come, that is to say, that I will not see above one in a month at any
of the publique theatres till the sum of 50s. be spent, and then none
before New Year's Day next, unless that I do become worth L1000 sooner
than then, and then am free to come to some other terms, and so leaving
him in Lombard Street I took her to the King's house, and there met Mr.
Nicholson, my old colleague, and saw "The Usurper," which is no good play,
though better than what I saw yesterday. However, we rose unsatisfied,
and took coach and home, and I to the office late writing letters, and so
to supper and to bed.

3rd (Lord's day). Lay long in bed, and then rose and with a fire in my
chamber staid within all day, looking over and settling my accounts in
good order, by examining all my books, and the kitchen books, and I find
that though the proper profit of my last year was but L305, yet I did by
other gain make it up L444., which in every part of it was unforeseen of
me, and therefore it was a strange oversight for lack of examining my
expenses that I should spend L690 this year, but for the time to come I
have so distinctly settled all my accounts in writing and the particulars
of all my several layings out, that I do hope I shall hereafter make a
better judgment of my spendings than ever. I dined with my wife in her
chamber, she in bed, and then down again and till 11 at night, and broke