'The master of the house shall keep an account of the absent members; and deliver to the President of the night a list of the forfeits incurred.
'When any member returns after absence, he shall immediately lay down his forfeits; which if he omits to do, the President shall require.
'There shall be no general reckoning, but every man shall adjust his own expences.
'The night of indispensable attendance will come to every member once a month. Whoever shall for three months together omit to attend himself, or by substitution, nor shall make any apology in the fourth month, shall be considered as having abdicated the Club.
'When a vacancy is to be filled, the name of the candidate, and of the member recommending him, shall stand in the Club-room three nights. On the fourth he may be chosen by ballot; six members at least being present, and two-thirds of the ballot being in his favour; or the majority, should the numbers not be divisible by three.
'The master of the house shall give notice, six days before, to each of those members whose turn of necessary attendance is come.
'The notice may be in these words:—"Sir, On —— the —— of —— — will be your turn of presiding at the Essex-Head. Your company is therefore earnestly requested."
'One penny shall be left by each member for the waiter.'
Johnson's definition of a Club in this sense, in his Dictionary, is, 'An assembly of good fellows, meeting under certain conditions.' BOSWELL.
[797] She had left him in the summer (ante, p. 233), but perhaps she had returned.