"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."
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.
"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.
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.
The clergyman who performed the ceremony explained that John Tempest and Bertha Decatur had been legally married at sea by the gallant commander of the man-of-war _United States_, but the contracting parties desired the blessing of the Church upon their union.
So, on New Year's Day, in the eventful year Eighteen hundred and thirteen, John Tempest was again married to the object of his choice, and this time not on the high seas, but with all the grandeur and _éclat_ of marriage in the residence of the chief magistrate of a great nation.