uch to Mrs. Dingley's chagrin: "Poor Dingley fretted to
see Stella lose that four and elevenpence t'other night." Mrs. Dingley
herself could hardly play well enough to hold the cards while Stella
went into the next room. If at dinner the mutton was underdone, and
"poor Stella cannot eat, poor dear rogue," then "Dingley is so vexed."
Swift was for ever urging Stella to walk and ride; she was "naturally a
stout walker," and "Dingley would do well enough if her petticoats were
pinned up." And we see Stella setting out on and returning from her
ride, with her riband and mask: "Ah, that riding to Laracor gives me
short sighs as well as you," he says; "all the days I have passed here
have been dirt to those."

If the Journal shows us some of Swift's less attractive qualities, it
shows still more how great a store of humour, tenderness, and affection
there was in him. In these letters we see his very soul; in his literary
work we are seldom moved to anything but admiration of his wit and
genius. Such daily outpourings could never have been written for
publication, they were meant only for one who understood him perfectly;
and everything that we know of Stella--her kindliness, her wit, her
vivacity, her loyalty--shows that she was worthy of the confidence.

JOURNAL TO STELLA

LETTER 1.(1)

CHESTER, Sept. 2, 1710.

Joe(2) will give you an account of me till I got into the boat; after
which the rogues made a new bargain, and forced me to give them two
crowns, and talked as if we should not be able to overtake any ship: but
in half an hour we got to the yacht; for the ships lay by (to) wait for
my Lord Lieutenant's steward. We made our voyage in fifteen hours
just. Last night I came to this town, and shall leave it, I believe, on
Monday. The first man I met in Chester was Dr. Raymond.(3) He and Mrs.
Raymond were here about levying a fine, in order to have power to sell
their estate. They have found everything answer very well. They both
desire to present their humble services to you: they do not think of
Ireland till next year. I got a fall off my horse, riding here from
Parkgate,(4) but no hurt; the horse understanding falls very well, and
lying quietly till I get up. My duty to the Bishop of Clogher.(5) I saw
him returning from Dunleary; but he saw not me. I take it ill he was not
at Convocation, and that I have not his name to my powers.(6) I beg you
will hold your resolution of going to Trim, and riding there