fool to go without it? As for the four shillings, I will give you a bill on
Parvisol for it on t'other side of this paper; and pray tear off the two
letters I shall write to him and Joe, or let Dingley transcribe and send them;
though that to Parvisol, I believe, he must have my hand for. No, no, I'll
eat no grapes; I ate about six the other day at Sir John Holland's; but would
not give sixpence for a thousand, they are so bad this year. Yes, faith, I
hope in God Presto and MD will be together this time twelvemonth. What then?
Last year I suppose I was at Laracor; but next I hope to eat my Michaelmas
goose at my two little gooses' lodgings. I drink no aile (I suppose you mean
ale); but yet good wine every day, of five and six shillings a bottle. O
Lord, how much Stella writes! pray don't carry that too far, young women, but
be temperate, to hold out. To-morrow I go to Mr. Harley.[21] Why, small hopes
from the Duke of Ormond: he loves me very well, I believe, and would, in my
turn, give me something to make me easy; and I have good interest among his
best friends. But I don't think of anything further than the business I am
upon. You see I writ to Manley before I had your letter, and I fear he will
be out. Yes, Mrs. Owl, Bligh's corpse[22] came to Chester when I was there;
and I told you so in my letter, or forgot it. I lodge in Bury Street, where I
removed a week ago. I have the first floor, a dining-room, and bed-chamber,
at eight shillings a week; plaguy deep, but I spend nothing for eating, never
go to a tavern, and very seldom in a coach; yet after all it will be
expensive. Why do you trouble yourself, Mistress Stella, about my instrument?
I have the same the Archbishop gave me; and it is as good now the bishops are
away. The Dean friendly! the Dean be poxed: a great piece of friendship
indeed, what you heard him tell the Bishop of Clogher; I wonder he had the
face to talk so: but he lent me money, and that's enough. Faith, I would not
send this these four days, only for writing to Joe and Parvisol. Tell the
Dean that when the bishops send me any packets, they must not write to me at
Mr. Steele's; but direct for Mr. Steele, at his office at the Cockpit, and let
the enclosed be directed for me: that mistake cost me eighteenpence the other