Few fillings,
     Many shillings.

If the day be dark, my purse will be light.

     To my enemies be this curse,
     A dark day and a light purse.

And so I’ll rise, and go to my fire, for Patrick tells me I have a fire; yet it is not shaving-day, nor is the weather cold; this is too extravagant.  What is become of Dilly?  I suppose you have him with you.  Stella is just now showing a white leg, and putting it into the slipper.  Present my service to her, and tell her I am engaged to the Dean, and desire she will come too:  or, Dingley, can’t you write a note?  This is Stella’s morning dialogue, no, morning speech I mean.—­Morrow, sirrahs, and let me rise as well as you; but I promise you Walls can’t dine with the Dean to-day, for she is to be at Mrs. Proby’s just after dinner, and to go with Gracy Spencer[17] to the shops to buy a yard of muslin, and a silver lace for an under petticoat.  Morrow again, sirrahs.—­At night.  I dined with Stratford in the City, but could not finish my affairs with him; but now I am resolved to buy five hundred pounds South Sea Stock, which will cost me three hundred and eighty ready money; and I will make use of the bill of a hundred pounds you sent me, and transfer Mrs. Walls over to Hawkshaw; or if she dislikes it, I will borrow a hundred pounds of the Secretary, and repay her.  Three shillings coach-hire to-day.  I have spoken to Frowde’s brother to get me the lowest price of the estate, to tell Mrs. Masham.

13.  I dined privately with a friend to-day in the neighbourhood.  Last Saturday night I came home, and the drab had just washed my room, and my bed-chamber was all wet, and I was forced to go to bed in my own defence, and no fire:  I was sick on Sunday, and now have got a swingeing cold.  I scolded like a dog at Patrick, although he was out with me:  I detest washing of rooms; can’t they wash them in a morning, and make a fire, and leave open the windows?  I slept not a wink last night for hawking[18] and spitting:  and now everybody has colds.  Here’s a clutter:  I’ll go to bed and sleep if I can.

14.  Lady Mountjoy sent to me two days ago, so I dined with her to-day, and in the evening went to see Lord Treasurer.  I found Patrick had been just there with a how d’ye,[19] and my lord had returned answer that he desired to see me.  Mrs. Masham was with him when I came, and they are never disturbed:  ’tis well she is not very handsome; they sit alone together settling the nation.  I sat with Lady Oxford, and stopped Mrs. Masham as she came out, and told her what progress I had made, etc., and then went to Lord Treasurer:  he is very well, only uneasy at rising or sitting, with some rheumatic pain in his thigh, and a foot weak.  He showed me a small paper, sent by an unknown hand to one Mr. Cook, who sent it to my lord:  it was written in plain large letters thus

     “Though G—–­d’s knife did not succeed,
      A F—–­n’s yet may do the deed.”