overlook his foibles. One Day at her own Table, before a large company, he spoke so very roughly to her, that every person present was surprised how she could bear it so placidly ; and on the Ladies withdrawing, one of them express'd great astonish ment how Dr. Johnson could speak in such harsh terms to herl But to this she said no more than * Oh ! Dear good man ! ' This short reply appeared so strong a proof of her generous virtues that the Lady took the first opportunity of commu nicating it to him, repeating her own animadversion that had occasion'd it. He seem d much delighted' 1 with this intelligence, and sometime after, as he was lying back in his Chair, seeming to be half asleep, but more evidently musing on this pleasing incident, he repeated in a loud whisper, ' Oh ! Dear good man I ' This was a common habit of his, when anything very flattering, or very extraordinary ingross'd his thoughts, and I rather wonder that none of his Biographers have taken any notice of it, or of his praying in the same manner ; at least I do not know that they have 2 .
Nor has any one, I believe, described his extraordinary gestures or anticks with his hands and feet, particularly when passing over the threshold of a Door, or rather before he would venture to pass through any doorway 3 . On entering Sir Joshua's house with poor Mrs. Williams, a blind lady who lived with him, he would quit her hand, or else whirl her about on the steps as he whirled and twisted about to perform his gesticulations ; and as soon as he had finish'd, he would give a sudden spring, and make such an extensive stride over the threshold, as if he was trying for a wager how far he could stride, Mrs. Williams standing groping about outside the door, unless the servant or the mistress of the House more commonly took hold of her
1 Miss Reynolds had at first written, on Feb. 14, 1852: ' Macaulay owns instead of the words in italics : to the feeling Dr. Johnson had, of
- Never shall I forget how delighted thinking oneself bound sometimes to
he seemed.' touch a particular rail or post, and
2 For his habit of talking to him- to tread always in the middle of the self see ante, i. 439; ii. 216. paving stone. I certainly have had
3 For his touching the posts as he this very strongly.' Treveiyan's walked along see Life, i. 485 n. Macaulay, ed. 1877, ii. 199.
Lord Carlisle recorded in his Diary
VOL. II. T hand
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