Dilke is knocking at the wall for Tea is ready--I will tell you what sort of a tea it is and then bid you Good-bye. [January 4.] This is Monday morning--nothing particular happened yesterday evening, except that when the tray came up Mrs. Dilke and I had a battle with celery stalks--she sends her love to you. I shall close this and send it immediately to Haslam--remaining ever, My dearest brother and sister, Your most affectionate Brother JOHN. LXXXI.--TO RICHARD WOODHOUSE. Wentworth Place, Friday Morn [December 18, 1818]. My dear Woodhouse--I am greatly obliged to you. I must needs feel flattered by making an impression on a set of ladies. I should be content to do so by meretricious romance verse, if they alone, and not men, were to judge. I should like very much to know those ladies--though look here, Woodhouse--I have a new leaf to turn over: I must work; I must read; I must write. I am unable to afford time for new acquaintances. I am scarcely able to do my duty to those I have. Leave the matter to chance. But do not forget to give my remembrances to your cousin. Yours most sincerely JOHN KEATS. LXXXII.--TO MRS. REYNOLDS. Wentworth Place, Tuesd. [December 22, 1818]. My dear Mrs. Reynolds--When I left you yesterday, 'twas with the conviction that you thought I had received no previous invitation for Christmas day: the truth is I had, and had accepted it under the conviction that I should be in Hampshire at the time: else believe me I should not have done so, but kept in Mind my old friends. I will not speak of the proportion of pleasure I may receive at different Houses--that never enters my head--you may take for a truth that I would have given up even what I did see to be a greater pleasure, for the sake of old acquaintanceship--time is nothing--two years are as long as twenty. Yours faithfully JOHN KEATS. LXXXIII.--TO BENJAMIN ROBERT HAYDON. Wentworth Place, Tuesday [December 22, 1818].