“That is well. Keep her very still. Keep the room dark and quiet. Do not leave her until my return. If she should wake in the meantime, tell her that I was compelled to ride into town this morning; but that I shall be back early. Do you hear?”
“Yes, sir; and I will be very careful to do as you say.”
Alexander then drew on his gloves and left the room. When he got down stairs he repeated to Leo his orders, that the house should be kept very quiet. Then he mounted his horse and rode rapidly towards the city. He was an hour behind his usual time, and it was noon when he reached his room at the hotel. He was glad to find out by inquiry that no one had called that morning to see him. So he went down stairs to call a cab, to take him to his uncle’s lodgings. He found the hotel halls, as well as the city streets, full of bustle. Yesterday had been the last day of the session of Congress, and to-day there was a general evacuation of the city, by members of the house and senate, and by the troops of friends and strangers that attend or follow them to and from Washington.
Alick found it hard to get an empty cab, so he hailed an omnibus, and rode on as far as it would take him to his uncle’s lodgings, and then got out and walked the rest of the way.
The general had just left his bedroom; but he received his visitor very cordially.
“I tell you what, Alick, these fashionable hours don’t suit an old-fashioned fellow like myself. And I am heartily glad the season is over. As soon as Anna comes down I shall tell her to give orders to pack up; for we shall leave in a day or two—just as soon as the great crush of travellers shall thin off, so that the steamboats and the railway trains will not be so overcrowded. By the way, I hope you made it all right with Anna last night?”
“Please to recollect, my dear sir, that I could not possibly get an opportunity of speaking to her in private. But I shall make one to-day.”
“All right, my dear boy, and I will help you. And I hope you will make up your mind to leave this babel when we do. What is to prevent you, eh? You might go back with us to the old hall.”
“I should be very happy to do so, sir; and if I can make arrangements——”
“Oh, bosh about arrangements! What arrangements can an idle young man like you have to make? None that could not be made in twenty-four hours. And we shall not leave for at least forty-eight.”