Mr. Thrale’s house is white, and very pleasantly situated, in a fine paddock.  Mrs. Thrale was strolling about, and came to us as we got out of the chaise.

“Ah,” cried she, “I hear Dr. Burney’s voice! and you have brought your daughter?—­well, now you are good!” She then received me, taking both my hands, and with mixed politeness and cordiality welcoming me to Streatham.  She led me ]Into the house, and addressed herself almost wholly for a few minutes to my father, as if to give me an assurance she did not mean to regard me as a show, or to distress or frighten me by drawing me out.  Afterwards she took me upstairs, and showed me the house, and said she had very much wished to see me at Streatham, and should always think herself much obliged to Dr. Burney for his goodness in bringing me, which she looked upon as a very great favour.

But though we were some time together, and though she was so very civil, she did not hint at my book, and I love her much more than ever for her delicacy in avoiding a subject which she could not but see would have greatly embarrassed me.

When we returned to the music-room, we found Miss Thrale was with my father.  Miss Thrale is a very fine girl, about fourteen years of age, but cold and reserved, though full of knowledge and intelligence.

Soon after, Mrs. Thrale took me to the library ; she talked a little while upon common topics, and then, at last, she mentioned “Evelina.”

" Yesterday at supper,” said she, “we talked it all over, and discussed all your characters — but Dr. Johnson’s favourite is Mr. Smith.  He declares the fine gentleman manqué was never better drawn; and he acted him all the evening, saying he was ‘all for the ladies!’ He repeated whole scenes by heart.  I declare I was astonished at him.  O, you can’t imagine how much he is pleased with the book; he ‘could not get rid of the rogue,’ he told me.  But was it not droll,” said she, “that I should recommend it to Dr. Burney? and tease him, so innocently, to read it?”

I now prevailed upon Mrs. Thrale to let me amuse myself, and she went to dress.  I then prowled about to choose some 77

book and I saw upon the reading-table, “Evelina.”—­I had just fixed upon a new translation of Cicero’s “Laelius,” when the library-door was opened, and Mr. Seward(43) entered.  I instantly put away my book, because I dreaded being thought studious and affected.  He offered his service to find anything for me, and then, in the same breath, ran on to speak of the work with which I had myself ‘favoured the world!’

The exact words he began with I cannot recollect, for I was actually confounded by the attack; and his abrupt manner of letting me know he was au fait equally astonished and provoked me.  How different from the delicacy of Mr. and Mrs. Thrale.

When we were summoned to dinner, Mrs. Thrale made my father and me sit on each side of her.  I said that I hoped I did not take Dr. Johnson’s place;—­for he had not yet appeared.