The Best of the Worlds Classics, Vol. V - Great Britain and Ireland III | Page 7

sad dilemma. I feared that what I was so confident I had
secured, would yet be frustrated. He had accustomed himself to show
Mrs. Williams such a degree of humane attention as frequently
imposed some restraint upon him; and I knew that if she should be
obstinate, he would not stir. I hastened down-stairs to the blind lady's
room, and told her I was in great uneasiness, for Dr. Johnson had
engaged to me to dine this day at Mr. Dilly's, but that he had told me he
had forgotten his engagement, and had ordered dinner at home. "Yes,
sir" (said she, pretty peevishly), "Dr. Johnson is to dine at home."
"Madam" (said I), "his respect for you is such that I know he will not
leave you, unless you absolutely desire it. But as you have so much of

his company, I hope you will be good enough to forego it for a day; as
Mr. Dilly is a very worthy man, has frequently had agreeable parties at
his house for Dr. Johnson, and will be vexed if the Doctor neglects him
to-day. And then, madam, be pleased to consider my situation: I carried
the message, and I assured Mr. Dilly that Dr. Johnson was to come; and
no doubt he has made a dinner, and invited a company, and boasted of
the honor he expected to have. I shall be quite disgraced if the Doctor is
not there."
She gradually softened to my solicitations, which were certainly as
earnest as most entreaties to ladies upon any occasion, and was
graciously pleased to empower me to tell Dr. Johnson "that, all things
considered, she thought he should certainly go." I flew back to him,
still in dust, and careless of what should be the event, "indifferent in his
choice to go or stay"; but as soon as I had announced to him Mrs.
Williams's consent, he roared, "Frank, a clean shirt," and was very soon
drest. When I had him fairly seated in a hackney-coach with me, I
exulted as much as a fortune-hunter who has got an heiress into a
post-chaise with him to set out for Gretna Green.
When we entered Mr. Dilly's drawing-room, he found himself in the
midst of a company he did not know. I kept myself snug and silent,
watching how he would conduct himself. I observed him whispering to
Mr. Dilly, "Who is that gentleman, sir?" "Mr. Arthur Lee." Johnson:
"Too, too, too" (under his breath), which was one of his habitual
mutterings. Mr. Arthur Lee could not but be very obnoxious to Johnson,
for he was not only a patriot but an American. He was afterward
minister from the United States at the court of Madrid. "And who is the
gentleman in lace?" "Mr. Wilkes, sir." This information confounded
him still more; he had some difficulty to restrain himself, and taking up
a book, sat down upon a window-seat and read, or at least kept his eye
upon it intently for some time, till he composed himself. His feelings, I
dare say, were awkward enough. But he no doubt recollected his having
rated me for supposing that he could be at all disconcerted by any
company, and he therefore resolutely set himself to behave quite as an
easy man of the World, who could adapt himself at once to the
disposition and manners of those whom he might chance to meet.

The cheering sound of "Dinner is upon the table" dissolved his reverie,
and we all sat down without any symptom of ill-humor. There were
present, besides Mr. Wilkes, and Mr. Arthur Lee, who was an old
companion of mine when he studied physics at Edinburgh, Mr. (now
Sir John) Miller, Dr. Lettson, and Mr. Slater the druggist. Mr. Wilkes
placed himself next to Dr. Johnson, and behaved to him with so much
attention and politeness that he gained upon him insensibly. No man ate
more heartily than Johnson, or loved better what was nice and delicate.
Mr. Wilkes was very assiduous in helping him to some fine veal. "Pray
give me leave, sir--It is better here--A little of the brown--Some fat,
sir--A little of the stuffing--Some gravy--Let me have the pleasure of
giving you some butter--Allow me to recommend a squeeze of this
orange; or the lemon, perhaps, may have more zest." "Sir, sir, I am
obliged to you, sir," cried Johnson, bowing, and turning his head to him
with a look for some time of "surly virtue," but in a short while of
complacency.

IV
JOHNSON'S WEDDING-DAY[5]
Tho Mrs. Porter was double the age of Johnson, and her person and
manner, as described to me by the late Mr. Garrick, were by no means
pleasing to others, she must have had a superiority of understanding
and talents, as she certainly