d few
friends or acquaintance in Ireland," persuaded Stella--now twenty years
old--that living was cheaper there than in England, and that a better
return was obtainable on money. The ladies took his advice, and made
Ireland their home. At first they felt themselves strangers in Dublin;
"the adventure looked so like a frolic," Swift says, "the censure held
for some time as if there were a secret history in such a removal: which
however soon blew off by her excellent conduct." Swift took every
step that was possible to avoid scandal. When he was away, the ladies
occupied his rooms; when he returned, they went into their own lodgings.
When he was absent, they often stopped at the vicarage at Laracor, but
if he were there, they moved to Trim, where they visited the vicar, Dr.
Raymond, or lived in lodgings in the town or neighbourhood. Swift was
never with Stella except in the presence of a third person, and in 1726
he said that he had not seen her in a morning "these dozen years, except
once or twice in a journey."

During a visit to England in the winter of 1703-4 we find Swift in
correspondence with the Rev. William Tisdall, a Dublin incumbent whom he
had formerly known at Belfast. Tisdall was on friendly terms with Stella
and Mrs. Dingley, and Swift sent messages to them through him. "Pray put
them upon reading," he wrote, "and be always teaching something to
Mrs. Johnson, because she is good at comprehending, remembering and
retaining." But the correspondence soon took a different turn. Tisdall
paid his addresses to Stella, and charged Swift with opposing his suit.
Tisdall's letters are missing, but Swift's reply of April 20, 1704,
puts things sufficiently clearly. "My conjecture is," he says, "that
you think I obstructed your inclinations to please my own, and that my
intentions were the same with yours. In answer to all which I will, upon
my conscience and honour, tell you the naked truth. First, I think I
have said to you before that, if my fortunes and humour served me to
think of that state, I should certainly, among all persons upon earth,
make your choice; because I never saw that person whose conversation I
entirely valued but hers; this was the utmost I ever gave way to. And
secondly, I must assure you sincerely that this regard of mine never
once entered into my head to be an impediment to you." He had thought
Tisdall not rich enough to marry; "but the objection of your fortune
being removed, I declare I have