The next morning, after having exhausted ourselves in wonderment at the freaks which had been played off upon us, I left my wife, to make some calls in the city. I had not been long absent, when she received a visit from Mrs. M., our travelling companion, who, after the usual salutations had passed, seemed struggling to suppress a disposition to laugh, which my wife took to be another mad freak, to be classed with those she had previously witnessed. The propensity at length overcame her, and she burst into a fit of uncontrollable laughter, which lasted for many minutes. Indignant as my wife was disposed to be, at such an unexpected explosion of mirth, from a lady who had for two days treated her with haughty reserve, if not absolute contempt, she bore it with patience, and awaited in silence the conclusion of her visiter's merry humor, and such explanation of its cause as she might choose to give. Every thing must have an end--and the lady at length ceased her laughter, from absolute exhaustion. "My dear madam,--she gasped out--my dear madam--this is very rude--very rude indeed. You must be surprised at such conduct, and I beg your pardon but"---- "It would be an unnecessary dissimulation, to say I am not surprised; but I presume I shall soon learn to be surprised at nothing." "You really then, think you have been associated for the last few days, with persons little better than bedlamites." "I have certainly been exposed to strange conduct." "Well, I have come to explain the whole mystery. Do not be offended at my mirth. I could not resist it. The laugh was more against myself than you--and the whole affair is so ridiculous, that you will laugh too, when you know the truth." "I own that I have a strong curiosity to be acquainted with the cause of the strange treatment we have met with. I presume it arose out of some mistake." "Entirely, entirely--and then a blunder so ridiculous--so uncommon! Excuse me, but really I must laugh--ha, ha, ha. But I will keep you in suspense no longer; besides, I wish you to laugh _with_ me, and therefore I will tell you my story. Listen. You remember that at Newcastle, you and your husband took one of the first stages. Myself and children were seated in another, in company with Mrs. R., (the pretty, talkative woman with light hair,) two members of Congress, and a young naval officer. We had scarcely started, when Mrs. R. commenced with her usual volubility, running over the various persons who had fallen under her observation in the steamboat. At last your turn came to be criticised: 'Did you observe Mrs. S.,' said she, 'the lady with black hair and blue eyes--rather pretty, and at first I took her to be quite a genteel personage.' Yes, I replied, I had been introduced to you, and was to place myself under the protection of your husband, from Baltimore to Washington." "'Did you ascertain any thing of their standing and character,' said Mrs. R."