" But how did she bear this?”

" Why she was obliged to answer him; and she soon grew so frightened—­as everybody else does—­that she was as civil as ever.”

he laughed heartily at this account.  But I told him Dr. Johnson was now much softened.  He had acquainted me, 277

when I saw him last, that he had written to her upon the death of Mrs. Williams, because she had allowed her something yearly, which now ceased.  ‘And I had a very kind answer from her,’ said he.

“‘Well then, sir,’ cried I, ’I hope peace now will be again proclaimed.’”

“‘Why, I am now,’ said he, ’come to that time when I wish all bitterness and animosity to be at an end.  I have never done her any serious harm—­nor would I; though I could give her a bite!—­ but she must provoke me much first.  In volatile talk, indeed, I may have spoken of her not much to her mind; for in the tumult of conversation malice is apt to grow sprightly! and there, I hope, I am not yet decrepid!’”

He quite laughed aloud at this characteristic speech.

I most readily assured the doctor that I had never yet seen him limp.”

“Sweetbewitching Mrs. Locke.”

Friday, April 23, 1784.-The sweet and most bewitching Mrs. Locke called upon me in the evening, with her son George.(179) I let her in and did so rejoice I had not gone to Mrs. Vesey’s.  But I rejoiced for only a short time; she came but to take leave, for she was going to Norbury the very next morning.  I was quite heavy all the evening.  She does truly interest both head and heart.  I love her already.  And she was so kind, so caressing, so soft ; pressed me so much to fix a time for going to Norbury ; said such sweet things of Mrs. Phillips; and kissed me so affectionately in quitting me, that I was quite melted by her.

What a charm has London lost for me by her departure sweet crea ture that she is ; born and bred to dispense pleasure and delight to all who see or know her!  She, Mrs. Thrale and Mrs. Delany, in their several ways all excellent, possess the joint powers of winning the affections, while they delight the intellects, to the highest summit I can even conceive of human attraction.  The heart-fascination of Mrs. Thrale, indeed, few know — but those few must confess and must feel her sweetness, to them, is as captivating as her wit is brilliant to all.

278

Mrs. Thrale’s second marriage.

(Mrs. Thrale to Fanny Burney.)
Mortimer-st., Cavendish-sq. 
Tuesday night, May (11), 1784.

I am come, dearest Burney.  It is neither dream nor fiction, though I love you dearly, or I would not have come.  Absence and distance do nothing towards wearing out real affection so you shall always find it in your true and tender H. L. T.

I am somewhat shaken bodily, but ’tis the mental shocks that have made me unable to bear the corporeal ones.  ’Tis past ten o’clock, however, and I must lay myself down with the sweet expectation of seeing my charming friend in the morning to breakfast.  I love Dr. Burney too well to fear him, and he loves me too well to say a word which should make me love him less.