by his
house, where I eat some peaches and apricots; a very pretty place. So
over the water to Westminster hall, and not finding Mrs. Lane, with whom
I purposed to be merry, I went to Jervas's and took him and his wife
over the water to their mother Palmer's (the woman that speaks in the
belly, and with whom I have two or three years ago made good sport with
Mr. Mallard), thinking because I had heard that she is a woman of that
sort that I might there have lit upon some lady of pleasure (for which
God forgive me), but blest be God there was none, nor anything that
pleased me, but a poor little house that she has set out as fine as she
can, and for her singing which she pretends to is only some old body
songs and those sung abominably, only she pretends to be able to sing
both bass and treble, which she do something like, but not what I
thought formerly and expected now; nor do her speaking in her belly take
me now as it did then, but it may be that is because I know it and see
her mouth when she speaks, which should not be. After I had spent a
shilling there in wine I took boat with Jervas and his wife and set them
at Westminster, and it being late forbore Mrs. Lane and went by water to
the Old Swan by a boat, where I had good sport with one of the young men
about his travells as far as Voxhall, in mockery, which yet the fellow
answered me most prettily and traveller-like unto my very good mirth. So
home, and with my brother eat a bit of bread and cheese, and so to bed,
he with me. This day I received a letter from my wife, which troubles me
mightily, wherein she tells me how Ashwell did give her the lie to her
teeth, and that thereupon my wife giving her a box on the eare, the
other struck her again, and a deal of stir which troubles me, and that
my Lady has been told by my father or mother something of my wife's
carriage, which altogether vexes me, and I fear I shall find a trouble
of my wife when she comes home to get down her head again, but if
Ashwell goes I am resolved to have no more, but to live poorly and low
again for a good while, and save money and keep my wife within bounds if
I can, or else I shall bid Adieu to all content in the world. So to
bed, my mind somewhat disturbed at this, but yet I shall take care, by
prudence, to avoid the ill consequences which I fear, things not
being gone too far yet, and this height that my wife is come to being
occasioned from my own folly in giving her too much head heretof