writing-master.(10)--But come, what
is here to do, writing to young women in a morning? I have other fish
to fry; so good-morrow, my ladies all, good-morrow. Perhaps I'll answer
your letter to-night, perhaps I won't; that's as saucy little Presto
takes the humour.--At night. I walked in the Park to-day in spite of the
weather, as I do always when it does not actually rain. Do you know what
it has gone and done? We had a thaw for three days, then a monstrous
dirt and snow, and now it freezes, like a pot-lid, upon our snow. I
dined with Lady Betty Germaine, the first time since I came for England;
and there did I sit, like a booby, till eight, looking over her and
another lady at piquet, when I had other business enough to do. It was
the coldest day I felt this year.

9. Morning. After I had been abed an hour last night, I was forced to
rise and call to the landlady and maid to have the fire removed in a
chimney below stairs, which made my bed-chamber smoke, though I had no
fire in it. I have been twice served so. I never lay so miserable an
hour in my life. Is it not plaguy vexatious?--It has snowed all night,
and rains this morning.--Come, where's MD's letter? Come, Mrs. Letter,
make your appearance. Here am I, says she, answer me to my face.--O,
faith, I am sorry you had my twelfth so soon; I doubt you will stay
longer for the rest. I'm so 'fraid you have got my fourteenth while I
am writing this; and I would always have one letter from Presto reading,
one travelling, and one writing. As for the box, I now believe it lost.
It is directed for Mr. Curry, at his house in Capel Street, etc. I had
a letter yesterday from Dr. Raymond in Chester, who says he sent his
man everywhere, and cannot find it; and God knows whether Mr. Smyth will
have better success. Sterne spoke to him, and I writ to him with the
bottle of palsy-water; that bottle, I hope, will not miscarry: I long
to hear you have it. O, faith, you have too good an opinion of Presto's
care. I am negligent enough of everything but MD, and I should not have
trusted Sterne.--But it shall not go so: I will have one more tug for
it.--As to what you say of Goodman Peasly and Isaac,(11) I answer as I
did before. Fie, child, you must not give yourself the way to believe
any such thing: and afterwards, only for curiosity, you may tell me
how these things are approved, and how you like them; and whether they
instruct you in the present course of affairs, and whether they are