18.  They are all gone early this morning, and I am alone to seek my fortune; but Dr. Arbuthnot engages me for my dinners; and he yesterday gave me my choice of place, person, and victuals for to-day.  So I chose to dine with Mrs. Hill, who is one of the dressers, and Mrs. Masham’s sister, no company but us three, and to have a shoulder of mutton, a small one; which was exactly, only there was too much victuals besides; and the Doctor’s wife[8] was of the company.  And to-morrow Mrs. Hill and I are to dine with the Doctor.  I have seen a fellow often about Court whom I thought I knew.  I asked who he was, and they told me it was the gentleman porter; then I called him to mind; he was Killy’s acquaintance (I won’t say yours); I think his name is Lovet,[9] or Lovel, or something like it.  I believe he does not know me, and in my present posture I shall not be fond of renewing old acquaintance; I believe I used to see him with the Bradleys; and, by the way, I have not seen Mrs. Bradley since I came to England.  I left your letter in London, like a fool; and cannot answer it till I go back, which will not be until Monday next; so this will be above a fortnight from my last; but I will fetch it up in my next; so go and walk to the Dean’s for your health this fine weather.

19.  The Queen designs to have cards and dancing here next week, which makes us think she will stay here longer than we believed.  Mrs. Masham is not well after her lying-in:  I doubt she got some cold; she is lame in one of her legs with a rheumatic pain.  Dr. Arbuthnot and Mrs. Hill go tomorrow to Kensington to see her, and return the same night.  Mrs. Hill and I dined with the Doctor to-day.  I rode out this morning with the Doctor to see Cranburn, a house of Lord Ranelagh’s,[10] and the Duchess of Marlborough’s lodge, and the Park; the finest places they are, for nature and plantations, that ever I saw; and the finest riding upon artificial roads, made on purpose for the Queen.  Arbuthnot made me draw up a sham subscription for a book, called A History of the Maids of Honour since Harry the Eighth, showing they make the best wives, with a list of all the maids of honour since, etc.; to pay a crown in hand, and the other crown upon delivery of the book; and all in common forms of those things.  We got a gentleman to write it fair, because my hand is known; and we sent it to the maids of honour, when they came to supper.  If they bite at it, it will be a very good Court jest; and the Queen will certainly have it:  we did not tell Mrs. Hill.

20.  To-day I was invited to the Green Cloth by Colonel Godfrey, who married the Duke of Marlborough’s sister,[11] mother to the Duke of Berwick by King James:  I must tell you those things that happened before you were born.  But I made my excuses, and young Harcourt (Lord Keeper’s son) and I dined with my next neighbour, Dr Adams.[12] Mrs. Masham is better, and will be here in three or four