No more was said just then.
Miss Bayard stayed to tea. And then, seeing that her friend was very much depressed in spirits, she volunteered to stay with her all night; a favor for which the widow was really very grateful.
The next morning, however, the elastic spirits of the lady from the mines had risen to their normal elevation, and Miss Sibby, with relieved feelings, left Mondreer to spread the news of Angus Anglesea’s death far and wide through the neighborhood.
And it is perfectly safe to say that the woman whom he had so deeply wronged was the only individual in the whole community who felt the least pity for his premature departure.
CHAPTER XI
“MERRY AS A MARRIAGE BELL”
Congress adjourned on the fourth of March, and within a week from that time the crowd that always follows in their wake left Washington, and the city dropped into comparative repose; for not only were all the receptions over, the multitude departed, but the season of Lent was on.
The Forces enjoyed this time of rest from the world. They attended old St. John’s Church three times a week, and lived quietly between whiles, looking forward with pleasant anticipations to the arrival of Le, and to all the delights that were expected to follow that event.
Le arrived on Easter Sunday morning. His ship had reached New York on the day before. He had obtained leave of absence, and he had only time to catch the latest train to Washington, “on the run,” leaving all his luggage behind him and having not a moment to telegraph his friends of his approach.
He reached the city at twelve o’clock midnight, and not wishing to wake the family up at that hour, he took a room at a hotel.
But by sunrise the next morning he was up and dressed, had paid his bill, taken a hack from the sidewalk, and was on his way to P Street Circle, to look up his uncle’s city house.