And the evening closed as pleasantly as it had commenced.
Alexander loved Drusilla; there is no doubt of that. But as the days wore on he found life alone with her rather dull. They had been married a fortnight before he left her alone for a day. But on a certain morning he had his horse saddled to ride in to Washington “to get the papers,” he said, and to make arrangements for having them sent to him every day. As he kissed Drusilla good-bye he added that he should be back as soon as possible.
She begged that he would not hurry himself for her sake. She said she would occupy her time with dress-making during his absence.
“But you will be quite alone my poor little love,” he said.
“I shall have pleasant thoughts for company,” she answered; and she added: “Dear Alick, I do not wish to be a hamper to your motions; never think of me as any obstacle to your freedom. Please don’t.”
“As if I ever thought of anything else but you!” replied the bridegroom, who was still a lover. And he kissed her again and rode away.
As soon as Alick reached the city he put his horse up at a livery stable, and gave himself a holiday by sauntering up and down Pennsylvania avenue, and lounging into the various reading rooms of the hotels.
In one of them he heard that an exciting polemic duel was to come off that day in the Senate Chamber between two distinguished Senators of opposite parties in politics. Mr. W. of Massachusetts was expected to make a speech, which Mr. C. of South Carolina was expected to answer.
And Alexander determined to go with the crowd and hear them.
He lost no time in hurrying to the Capitol, and making his way to the gallery of the Senate.