' JOHNSON. 'What do you mean, Sir? What do you take me
for? Do you think I am so ignorant of the world as to imagine that I am
to prescribe to a gentleman what company he is to have at his table?'
BOSWELL. 'I beg your pardon, Sir, for wishing to prevent you from
meeting people whom you might not like. Perhaps he may have some of what
he calls his patriotick friends with him.' Johnson. 'Well, Sir, and what
then? What care I for his PATRIOTICK FRIENDS? Poh!' BOSWELL. 'I should
not be surprized to find Jack Wilkes there.' Johnson. 'And if Jack
Wilkes SHOULD be there, what is that to ME, Sir? My dear friend, let us
have no more of this. I am sorry to be angry with you; but really it is
treating me strangely to talk to me as if I could not meet any company
whatever, occasionally.' BOSWELL. 'Pray forgive me, Sir: I meant well.
But you shall meet whoever comes, for me.' Thus I secured him, and told
Dilly that he would find him very well pleased to be one of his guests
on the day appointed.
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