he is to have, is agreeable to you.’  Johnson.  ’What do you mean, Sir?  What do you take me for?  Do you think I am so ignorant of the world as to imagine that I am to prescribe to a gentleman what company he is to have at his table?’ Boswell.  ’I beg your pardon, Sir, for wishing to prevent you from meeting people whom you might not like.  Perhaps he may have some of what he calls his patriotick friends with him.’  Johnson.  ’Well, Sir, and what then?  What care I for his patriotick friends?  Poh!’ Boswell.  ’I should not be surprized to find Jack Wilkes there.’  Johnson.  ’And if Jack Wilkes should be there, what is that to me, Sir?  My dear friend, let us have no more of this.  I am sorry to be angry with you; but really it is treating me strangely to talk to me as if I could not meet any company whatever, occasionally.’  Boswell.  ’Pray forgive me, Sir:  I meant well.  But you shall meet whoever comes, for me.’  Thus I secured him, and told Dilly that he would find him very well pleased to be one of his guests on the day appointed.

Upon the much-expected Wednesday, I called on him about half an hour before dinner, as I often did when we were to dine out together, to see that he was ready in time, and to accompany him.  I found him buffeting his books, as upon a former occasion, covered with dust, and making no preparation for going abroad.  ’How is this, Sir? (said I.) Don’t you recollect that you are to dine at Mr. Dilly’s?’ Johnson.  ’Sir, I did not think of going to Dilly’s:  it went out of my head.  I have ordered dinner at home with Mrs. Williams.’  Boswell.  ’But, my dear Sir, you know you were engaged to Mr. Dilly, and I told him so.  He will expect you, and will be much disappointed if you don’t come.’  Johnson.  ’You must talk to Mrs. Williams about this.’

Here was a sad dilemma.  I feared that what I was so confident I had secured would yet be frustrated.  He had accustomed himself to shew Mrs. Williams such a degree of humane attention, as frequently imposed some restraint upon him; and I knew that if she should be obstinate, he would not stir.  I hastened down stairs to the blind lady’s room, and told her I was in great uneasiness, for Dr. Johnson had engaged to me to dine this day at Mr. Dilly’s, but that he had told me he had forgotten his engagement, and had ordered dinner at home.  ’Yes, Sir, (said she, pretty peevishly,) Dr. Johnson is to dine at home.’—­’Madam, (said I,) his respect for you is such, that I know he will not leave you unless you absolutely desire it.  But as you have so much of his company, I hope you will be good enough to forego it for a day; as Mr. Dilly is a very worthy man, has frequently had agreeable parties at his house for Dr. Johnson, and will be vexed if the Doctor neglects him to-day.  And then, Madam, be pleased to consider my situation; I carried the message, and I assured Mr. Dilly that Dr. Johnson