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DIARY • 1778 21
conduct has softened me in his favour, I begin to think
of him much in the same way Mrs Thrale does, for he is
very sensible, very intelligent, and very well bred.
MONDAY. 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 slopped 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
sure of you, I am so near-sighted, and I apprehended
making some mistake.'
Then drawing me very unexpectedly towards him, he
actually kissed me I
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
farthest 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 '11 take
some care of you,' she added.
'Aye, madam,' said the doctor, 'we shall do very well;
but I assure you I shan't part with Miss Burney I'
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
in a distant corner, not presuming, he said, to break
in upon us 1 Everybody, he added, gave way to the doctor.