10. O Lord, I would this letter was with you with all my heart! If it should
miscarry, what a deal would be lost! I forgot to leave a gap in the last line
but one for the seal, like a puppy; but I should have allowed for night,
goodnight; but when I am taking leave, I cannot leave a bit, faith; but I
fancy the seal will not come there. I dined to-day at Lady Lucy's, where they
ran down my "Shower"; and said, "Sid Hamet" was the silliest poem they ever
read; and told Prior so, whom they thought to be author of it. Don't you
wonder I never dined there before? But I am too busy, and they live too far
off; and, besides, I do not like women so much as I did. (MD, you must know,
are not women.) I supped to-night at Addison's, with Garth, Steele, and Mr.
Dopping; and am come home late. Lewis has sent to me to desire I will dine
with some company I shall like. I suppose it is Mr. Secretary St. John's
appointment. I had a letter just now from Raymond, who is at Bristol, and
says he will be at London in a fortnight, and leave his wife behind him; and
desires any lodging in the house where I am: but that must not be. I shall
not know what to do with him in town: to be sure, I will not present him to
any acquaintance of mine; and he will live a delicate life, a parson and a
perfect stranger! Paaast twelvvve o'clock,[38] and so good-night, etc. Oh!
but I forgot, Jemmy Leigh is come to town; says he has brought Dingley's
things, and will send them with the first convenience. My parcel, I hear, is
not sent yet. He thinks of going for Ireland in a month, etc. I cannot write
tomorrow, because--what, because of the Archbishop; because I will seal my
letter early; because I am engaged from noon till night; because of many kind
of things; and yet I will write one or two words to-morrow morning, to keep up
my journal constant, and at night I will begin my ninth.

11. Morning by candlelight. You must know that I am in my nightgown every
morning between six and seven, and Patrick is forced to ply me fifty times
before I can get on my nightgown; and so now I will take my leave of my own
dear MD for this letter, and begin my next when I come home at night. God