25th. Up betimes and to my workmen, and then to the office, where we
sat all the morning. So home to dinner alone and then to my workmen
till night, and so to my office till bedtime, and so after supper to my
lodgings and to bed. This evening I sat awhile at Sir W. Batten's with
Sir J. Minnes, &c., where he told us among many other things how in
Portugal they scorn to make a seat for a house of office, but they do
.... all in pots and so empty them in the river. I did also hear how
the woman, formerly nurse to Mrs. Lemon (Sir W. Batten's daughter), her
child was torn to pieces by two doggs at Walthamstow this week, and is
dead, which is very strange.

26th. Up betimes and among my workmen. By and by to Sir W. Batten, who
with Sir J. M. are going to Chatham this morning, and I was in great
pain till they were gone that I might see whether Sir John do speak any
thing of my chamber that I am afraid of losing or no. But he did not,
and so my mind is a little at more ease. So all day long till night
among my workmen, and in the afternoon did cause the partition between
the entry and the boy's room to be pulled down to lay it all into one,
which I hope will please me and make my coming in more pleasant. Late at
my office at night writing a letter of excuse to Sir G. Carteret that I
cannot wait upon him to-morrow morning to Chatham as I promised, which
I am loth to do because of my workmen and my wife's coming to town
to-morrow. So to my lodgings and to bed.

27th. Up betimes and among my workmen, and with great pleasure see the
posts in the entry taken down beyond expectation, so that now the boy's
room being laid into the entry do make my coming in very handsome, which
was the only fault remaining almost in my house. We sat all the morning,
and in the afternoon I got many jobbs done to my mind, and my wife's
chamber put into a good readiness against her coming, which she did at
night, for Will did, by my leave to go, meet her upon the road, and at
night did bring me word she was come to my brother's, by my order. So I
made myself ready and put things at home in order, and so went thither
to her. Being come, I found her and her maid and dogg very well, and
herself grown a little fatter than she was. I was very well pleased to
see her, and after supper to bed, and had her company with great content
and much mutual love, only I do perceive that there has been falling out
between my mother and she, and a little between my fat