so to the Ministry, that they think and talk in his favour, though they hated him before.—­Well, he is now in my debt, and there’s an end; and I never had the least obligation to him, and there’s another end.  This evening I had a message from Mr. Harley, desiring to know whether I was alive, and that I would dine with him to-morrow.  They dine so late, that since my head has been wrong I have avoided being with them.—­ Patrick has been out of favour these ten days; I talk dry and cross to him, and have called him “friend” three or four times.  But, sirrahs, get you gone.

5.  Morning.  I am going this morning to see Prior, who dines with me at Mr. Harley’s; so I can’t stay fiddling and talking with dear little brats in a morning, and ’tis still terribly cold.—­I wish my cold hand was in the warmest place about you, young women, I’d give ten guineas upon that account with all my heart, faith; oh, it starves my thigh; so I’ll rise and bid you good-morrow, my ladies both, good-morrow.  Come, stand away, let me rise:  Patrick, take away the candle.  Is there a good fire?—­So—­up-a-dazy.—­At night.  Mr. Harley did not sit down till six, and I stayed till eleven; henceforth I will choose to visit him in the evenings, and dine with him no more if I can help it.  It breaks all my measures, and hurts my health; my head is disorderly, but not ill, and I hope it will mend.

6.  Here has been such a hurry with the Queen’s Birthday, so much fine clothes, and the Court so crowded that I did not go there.  All the frost is gone.  It thawed on Sunday, and so continues, yet ice is still on the Canal (I did not mean that of Laracor, but St. James’s Park) and boys sliding on it.  Mr. Ford pressed me to dine with him in his chamber.—­Did not I tell you Patrick has got a bird, a linnet, to carry over to Dingley?  It was very tame at first, and ’tis now the wildest I ever saw.  He keeps it in a closet, where it makes a terrible litter; but I say nothing:  I am as tame as a clout.  When must we answer our MD’s letter?  One of these odd-come-shortlies.  This is a week old, you see, and no farther yet.  Mr. Harley desired I would dine with him again to-day; but I refused him, for I fell out with him yesterday,[9] and will not see him again till he makes me amends:  and so I go to bed.

7.  I was this morning early with Mr. Lewis of the Secretary’s office, and saw a letter Mr. Harley had sent to him, desiring to be reconciled; but I was deaf to all entreaties, and have desired Lewis to go to him, and let him know I expect further satisfaction.  If we let these great Ministers pretend too much, there will be no governing them.  He promises to make me easy, if I will but come and see him; but I won’t, and he shall do it by message, or I will cast him off.  I’ll tell you the cause of our quarrel when I see you, and refer it to yourselves.  In that he did something, which he intended for a favour; and I have taken it quite