��know, ladies (said he), that Frank has carried the empire of Cupid further than most men. When I was in Lincolnshire so many years ago, he attended me thither ; and when we returned home together, I found that a female haymaker x had followed him to London for love.' Francis was indeed no small favourite with his master, who retained however a prodigious influence over his most violent passions.
On the birth-day of our eldest daughter, and that of our friend Dr. Johnson, the iyth and i8th of September 2 , we every year made up a little dance and supper, to divert our servants and their friends, putting the summer-house 3 into their hands for the two evenings, to fill with acquaintance and merriment. Francis and his white wife were invited of course. She was eminently pretty, and he was jealous, as my maids told me. On the first of these days amusements (I know not what year) Frank took offence at some attentions paid his Desdemona, and walked away next morning to London in wrath. His master and I driving the same road an hour after, overtook him. ' What is the matter, child (says Dr. Johnson), that you leave Streatham to-day? Art sick?' He is jealous (whispered I). 'Are you jealous of your wife, you stupid blockhead (cries out his master in another tone) ? ' The fellow hesitated ; and, To be sure Sir, I dorit quite approve Sir, was the stammering reply. ' Why, what do they do to her, man ? do the footmen kiss her ? ' No Sir, no! Kiss my wife Sir ! I hope not Sir. ' Why, what do they do to her, my lad ? ' Why nothing Sir, I'm sure Sir. 1 Why then go back directly and dance you dog, do ; and let's hear no more of such empty lamentations.' I believe however that Francis was scarcely as much the object of Mr. Johnson's personal kindness, as the representative of Dr. Bathurst 4 , for whose sake he would have loved any body, or any thing.
1 The 'haymaker* must be due to 3 It was to the summer-house that Mrs. Piozzi's lively invention. John- Johnson on August 9, 1781 'retired, son visited Langton in the winter of to plan a life of greater diligence.' 1764 and was back in London in Ante, p. 99.
February. Life, i. 477. 4 Life, i. 239, n. I.
2 Ante, p. 92.
U 2 When
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