“However,” said Mrs. Thrale, “Lady Ladd took it very good-naturedly, and
only said, 'I know enough of that forty-three--I don't desire to hear
any more of it.'”
Miss Moss, a pretty girl, who played and sung, to the great fatigue of
Mrs. Thrale; Mr. Rose Fuller, Mr. Embry, Mr. Seward, Dr. Johnson, the
three Thrales, and myself, close the party.
In the evening the company divided pretty much into parties, and almost
everybody walked upon the gravel-walk before the windows. I was going to
have joined some of them, when Dr. Johnson stopped me, and asked how I
did.
“I was afraid, sir,” cried I “you did not intend to know me again, for
you have not spoken to me before since your return from town.”
“_My_ dear,” cried he, taking both my hands, “I was not of _you_, I am
so near sighted, and I apprehended making some Mistake.” Then drawing me
very unexpectedly towards him, he actually kissed me!
To be sure, I was a little surprised, having no idea of such
facetiousness from him, However, I was glad nobody was in the room but
Mrs. Thrale, who stood close to us, and Mr. Embry, who was lounging on a
sofa at the furthest end of the room. Mrs. Thrale laughed heartily,
and said she hoped I was contented with his amends for not knowing me
sooner.
A little after she said she would go and walk with the rest, if she did
not fear for my reputation in being “left with the doctor.”
“However, as Mr. Embry is yonder, I think he'll take some care of you,”
she added.
“Ay, madam,” said the doctor, “we shall do very well; but I assure you I
sha'n't part with Miss Burney!”
And he held me by both hands; and when Mrs. Thrale went, he drew me a
chair himself facing the window, close to his own; and thus tete-a-tete
we continued almost all the evening. I say tete-a-tete, because Mr,
Embry kept at an humble distance, and offered us no interruption And
though Mr. Seward soon after came in, he also seated himself at a
distant corner, not presuming, he said, to break in upon us! Everybody,
he added, gave way to the doctor.
Our conversation chiefly was upon the Hebrides, for he always talks
to me of Scotland, out of sport; and he wished I had been of that
tour--quite gravely, I assure you!
The P-- family came in to tea. When they were gone Mrs. Thrale
complained that she was quite worn out with that tiresome silly woman
Mrs. P--, who had talked of her family and affairs till she was sick to
death of hearing her.
“Madam,” said Dr. Johnson, “why do you blame the woman for the only
sensible thing she could do--talking of her family and her affairs?
For how should a woman who is as empty as a drum, talk upon any other
subject? If you speak to her of the sun, she does not know it rises in
the east;--if you speak to her of the moon, she does not know it changes
at the full;--if you speak to her of the queen, she does not know she is
the king's wife.--how, then, can you blame her for talking of her family
and affairs?”