[51]
CHAPTER IX.
An awkward predicament.—The mechanic's wife and Aaron Burr.—The mother-in-law and her daughter.
On the succeeding Sunday night, Burr repaired to the house fo Mrs. W—, and having ascertained that the husband had not yet returned, he entered the apartment were he had left the lady of the house.
She was there, and welcomed Burr with much warmth; but she was the prey to remorse. She declared that the misconduct of the doctor did not excuse her dereliction from the path of duty. Not caring to multiply words, Burr proceeded to administer consolation in his usual style, and the lady soon forgot her troubles in Elysium.
Burr urged the propriety of retiring to bed, where they could pursue their bent to more advantage. She resisted awhile, but finaly yielded her assent.
The pretty woman retired first, and having undressed, blew out the light, and got in between the sheets.
Burr went up in the dark, and placing his clothes on a chair near the door, where he could easily find them, turned down the coverlet, and rushed into the arms of Mrs. W—, who received him nothing loth.
They were soon buried together in untold bliss. This was repeated several times, and it was not far from midnight, when Burr felt a cold human hand laid upon his neck. He knew by the feeling that it was not the little soft hand of his companion, who, indeed lay panting and half-fainting by his side, unequal to any physical exertion.
It might be a servant, a somnambulist, or a robber: but it might also be the husband of the lady, and now he remembered that, in their heedlessness of all worldly matters, they had stolen off to bed without locking the front door.
"Clarissa!" said a well known voice, "is this you?"
"My God! how you scared me!" cried the startled wife; "why did you not bring a light?"
"But Clarissa, it is not your head that my hand rests upon. You are not on this side. You are over yonder—"
"Has that dog—as sure as the world, that Newfoundland dog of Mr. Fosdick's has crept in. Get out! oh! get out! cried she, kicking and pushing Burr, who took the hint, and tumbling out on the floor, ran
