"Very well, Mrs. G—, I beg your pardon. He has probably got over the fence and escaped."
Mrs. G— entered the room with a pleased smile on her countenance, but soon said:
"Do tell me, sir, if our neighbor, the doctor, is an enemy to his country too?"
"Certainly. One of the very worst kind, as he conceals his principals, and only avows himself when he gets a chance to strike down a patriot."
"The snake in the grass!" exclaimed Mrs. G—, bitterly. "Well, who can we trust in these days—unless, indeed they are soldiers like yourself, actually engaged in fighting for liberty."
"True, madam, but—"
Burr was interrupted by the husband of the lady, who called from an upper chamber:
"Come, my dear, are you not coming to bed yet?"
It was evident that the man had just been awakened by the doctor's noise at the door, or rather he was only half awake, to judge by the tone in which he spoke.
"I cannot come yet, Silas, for I must finish this jacket before I sleep, as Mrs. Pease wants it for her son to-morrow at farthest."
The good man seemed to have dropped immediately to sleep again.
"You must know," said the woman, in a low voice, to Burr, "that my husband is afraid to commit himself, as his employer is a bitter tory, though he don't make a noise about it, and if it was known that we hid you from your enemies, Silas would be turned off at once, and we find it hard enough now to make the two ends meet."
"Worthy woman," said Burr, who was immediately melted with compassion; "accept this, and rely upon more in a day or two."
Burr handed her a gold piece of some value, which she took, with a blush on her cheek, which made her really look handsome.
She was so young that Burr had, at first mistaken her for a girl. She was scarcely of the middling height, plump, and very lively, with small feet and hands, black eyes and hair, vermilion lips, and a good, wholesome complexion.
This young woman had been very merry in company before her marriage, and loved the beaux very much; yet it was not known that she had ever lost her virtue. She had married a man because she was in great haste to gratify those feelings which nature has bestowed upon the most chaste and prudent of her sex. But she had not made a choice commensurate with her necessities. Her husband married because he wanted to settle in life, and have a woman to take care of his wardrobe and cook his victuals. He never was much pleased with the society of the fair sex, and Mrs. G— soon discovered that his embraces were
