His house, beyond the dip of Wall Street and within sight of the bay, was of red brick, and as unbeautiful architecturally as other New York houses which had risen at random from the ruins.  But within, it was very charming.  The long drawing-room was furnished with mahogany, and rose-coloured brocade, with spindle-legged tables and many bibelots sent by Angelica Church, now living in London.  The library was filling with valuable books, and the panelled whiteness of the dining room glittered with silver and glass, which in quantity or value was not exceeded in the home of any young couple in America; the world had outdone itself at the most interesting wedding of the Revolution.  Betsey’s sitting room was behind the drawing-room, and there Hamilton found her counting the moments until his return.  She had lost nothing of her slimness, and except on dress occasions wore her mass of soft black hair twisted in a loose knot and unpowdered.  She looked younger and prettier than with powder or wig, and Hamilton begged her to defy the fashion; but yielding in all else, on this point she was inflexible.  “I am wiser than you in just a few things,” she would say, playfully, for she firmly believed him infallible; “my position would suffer, were I thought eccentric.  You cannot stand in rank without a uniform.  I shall not yield to Sarah Jay nor even Kitty Duer.  I am a little Republican, sir, and know my rights.  And I know how to keep them.”

To-day, after her usual prolonged and unmitigated greeting, she remarked:  “Speaking of eccentric people, I met to-day, at Lady Sterling’s, that curious person, Mrs. Croix, or Miss Capet, as some will call her.  Her hair was built up quite a foot and unpowdered.  On top of it was an immense black hat with plumes, and her velvet gown was at least three yards on the floor.  She certainly is the handsomest creature in town, but, considering all the gossip, I think it odd Lady Sterling should take her up, and I believe that Kitty is quite annoyed.  But Lady Sterling is so good-natured, and I am told that Dr. Franklin went personally and asked her to give this lady countenance.  He calls her his Fairy Queen, and to-day saluted her on the lips before all of us.  Poor dear Dr. Franklin is by now quite in the class with Caesar’s wife, but still I think his conduct rather remarkable.”

“Who is this woman?” asked Hamilton, indifferently.

“Well!” exclaimed his wife, with a certain satisfaction, “you are busy.  She has been the talk of the town for quite three months, although she never went anywhere before to-day.”

“I hear all my gossip from you,” said Hamilton, smiling from the hearth rug, “and considering the labours of the past three months—­but tell me about her.  I believe I love you best when gossiping.  Your effort to be caustic is the sweetest thing in the world.”

She threw a ball of wool at him, which he caught and pulled apart, then showered on her head.  It was yellow wool, and vastly becoming on her black hair.  “You must have a yellow hat at once, with plumes,” he said, “but go on.”