We have given you the after-view of most of the actors of our little scene to-night, and therefore it is but fair that you should have a peep over the Colonel’s shoulder, as he sums up the evening in a letter to a friend.

“MY DEAR ——­

“As to the business, it gets on rather slowly.  L——­ and S——­ are away, and the coalition cannot be formed without them; they set out a week ago from Philadelphia, and are yet on the road.

“Meanwhile, we have some providential alleviations,—­as, for example, a wedding-party to-night, at the Wilcoxes’, which was really quite an affair.  I saw the prettiest little Puritan there that I have set eyes on for many a day.  I really couldn’t help getting up a flirtation with her, although it was much like flirting with a small copy of the ’Assembly’s Catechism,’—­of which last I had enough years ago, Heaven knows.

“But, really, such a naive, earnest little saint, who has such real deadly belief, and opens such pitying blue eyes on one, is quite a stimulating novelty.  I got myself well scolded by the fair Madame, (as angels scold,) and had to plead like a lawyer to make my peace;—­after all, that woman really enchains me.  Don’t shake your head wisely,—­’ What’s going to be the end of it?’ I’m sure I don’t know; we’ll see, when the time comes.

“Meanwhile, push the business ahead with all your might.  I shall not be idle.  D——­ must canvass the Senate thoroughly.  I wish I could be in two places at once,—­I would do it myself. Au revoir.

“Ever yours,

“Burr.”

CHAPTER XV.

“And now, Mary,” said Mrs. Scudder, at five o’clock the next morning, “to-day, you know, is the Doctor’s fast; so we won’t get any regular dinner, and it will be a good time to do up all our little odd jobs.  Miss Prissy promised to come in for two or three hours this morning, to alter the waist of that black silk; and I shouldn’t be surprised if we should get it all done and ready to wear by Sunday.”

We will remark, by way of explanation to a part of this conversation, that our Doctor, who was a specimen of life in earnest, made a practice, through the greater part of his pulpit course, of spending every Saturday as a day of fasting and retirement, in preparation for the duties of the Sabbath.

Accordingly, the early breakfast things were no sooner disposed of than Miss Prissy’s quick footsteps might have been heard pattering in the kitchen.

“Well, Miss Scudder, how do you do this morning? and how do you do, Mary?  Well, if you a’n’t the beaters! up just as early as ever, and everything cleared away!  I was telling Miss Wilcox there didn’t ever seem to be anything done in Miss Scudder’s kitchen, and I did verily believe you made your beds before you got up in the morning.