During the evening Dolly managed to ask Tempest about his wife. "You have heard?" he asked in surprise. "Ah! you little think how such news travels," she answered teasingly. "Surely, the commodore did not tell you?" "Is it a secret, then?" "No, dear madam; but the circumstances were so strange that----" "I would like to know all about it," interjected the mistress of the White House, who loved to hear a love romance quite as much as she did when wooed and won as a wife. Tempest needed no pressing, for he was in love with Bertha, and nothing was so gratifying to him as to talk of her. He told his story, and Mrs. Madison was delighted. Her eyes flashed with the fire of youth, her face flushed with pleasure, and she had to call her husband to tell him of the brave privateer's love story. President Madison listened. "Decatur's niece the wife of a privateer! Sir, what magic did you use?" The President spoke as though he were angry, but a smile flitted over his face as his wife answered him: "The same magic you used, James, when you said you loved me." "Well, well! and so Decatur acted as celebrant! Are you thinking of having the ceremony performed in Washington?" "I--had not thought--but it would be as well." Tempest hesitated and stammered. A new complexion was put upon his marriage. He knew Decatur had the right to perform the ceremony, but there were some who would doubt. Dorothea Madison saw his perplexity. "Of course, and the wedding shall be from the White House. Oh, yes, I insist, James, and do not say no, for I am mistress of the White House, you know." "My dear Dolly, I am not objecting, but what will the world say about a privateer being married from the executive mansion?" "That the President of the United States dares to do right, even though the world might frown," answered his wife earnestly. "My dear, you shall do as you please." Then the sweet woman made a curtsey, and answered with a pretty little pout: "I know that, James, even though you are President of the Republic." The evening passed pleasantly, and the guests departed long before midnight, happy in their patriotic love. In those days night was not turned into day; the revels ended at an early hour, for all believed in the good old idea that an hour's beauty sleep before midnight was worth two afterward. On the following day John Tempest introduced his wife to the White House circle, and Dorothea Madison at once fell in love with Bertha. The wedding was conducted on a splendid scale; no expense was spared, for Tempest was considered a naval hero, and no one dared to even speak slightingly of the privateer. In fact, in the East Room of the White House the captured flags were draped on the wall, and underneath were the names of the victorious vessels: The _Wasp_, _Constitution_, _United States_ and _Lively Bee_. The President took no part in the exercises, but was present.