Now, would you ever have imagined this?  Bet Flint, it seems, took Kitty Fisher(54) to see him, but to his no little regret he was not at home.  “And Mrs. Williams,"(55) he added, “did not love Bet Flint, but Bet Flint made herself very easy about that.”

    A learned man on “Evelina.”

When we were dressed for dinner, and went into the parlour, we had the agreeable surprise of seeing Mr. Seward.  There was also Mr. Lort,(56) who is reckoned one of the most learned men alive, and is also a collector of curiosities,, alike in literature and natural history.  His manners are somewhat blunt and odd, and he is altogether out of the common road, without having chosen a better path.

The day was passed most agreeably.  In the evening we had, as usual, a literary conversation.  Mr. Lort produced several curious MSS. of the famous Bristol Chatterton; among others, his will, and divers verses written against Dr. Johnson, as a placeman and pensioner; all of which he read aloud, with a steady voice and unmoved countenance.

I was astonished at him; Mrs. Thrale not much pleased; Mr. Thrale silent and attentive; and Mr. Seward was slily laughing.  Dr. johnson himself listened profoundly and laughed openly.  Indeed, I believe he wishes his abusers no other Thiing than a good dinner, like Pope.(57)

Just as we had got our biscuits and toast-and-water, which make the Streatham supper, and which, indeed, is all there is any chance of eating after our late and great dinners, Mr. Lort suddenly said,

“Pray, ma’am, have you heard anything of a novel that runs about a good deal, called ’Evelina’?”

90

What a ferment did this question, before such a set, Put me in!  I did not know whether he spoke to me, or Mrs. Thrale, and Mrs. Thrale was in the same doubt, and as she owned, felt herself in a little palpitation for me, not knowing what might come next, Between us both, therefore, he had no answer.  “It has been recommended to me,” continued he; “but I have no great desire to see it, because it has such a foolish name.  Yet I have heard a great deal of it, too.”

He then repeated “Evelina”—­in a very languishing and ridiculous tone.

My heart beat so quick against my stays that I almost panted with extreme agitation, from the dread either of hearing some horrible criticism, or of being betrayed:  and I munched my biscuit as if I had not eaten for a fortnight.

I believe the whole party were in some little consternation Dr. Johnson began see-sawing; Mr. Thrale awoke; Mr. E—­’ who I fear has picked up some notion of the affair from being so much in the house, grinned amazingly; and Mr. Seward, biting his nails and flinging himself back in his chair, I am sure had wickedness enough to enjoy the whole scene.

Mrs. Thrale was really a little fluttered, but without looking at me, said, “And pray what, Mr. Lort, what have you heard of it?”