“Mrs. Santon received the Sea-flower with a mother’s tenderness, but being weary with her journey, Natalie retired early, to dream of those far, low murmurings of the deep, which she had so missed, in lulling her to rest.”

“I am so disappointed in her, mother! she is such a gentle, delicate creature!  I know I shall love her!  And such spiritual eyes!  Did you notice when you asked about her mother, what a sweet expression she wore?”

“She is a beautiful creature, and if I mistake not, she has a heart to match; but she does not resemble her mother at all, in features; I think Captain Grosvenor must have been a fine-looking man;” and Mrs. Santon wore a complacent look, as she thought of the favorable effect which their guest might have upon the mind of her daughter; for owing to frequent ill-health, Mrs. Santon had not been able to be with her child as much as she would have desired, and she feared lest those early traits in her character of impatience, and a proneness to censure others, might grow upon her, under the influence of her father, who was blind to her every fault”

“Ah, ha, miss puss,” said Mr. Santon, who had received a most favorable impression of the Sea-flower, “you will have to look out for that fairy-like creature, or even your bewitching charms will be cast in the shade!” and as he spoke he proudly surveyed his idolized daughter, who was indeed to be classed among the first in the brunette style of beauty.

“Oh, never fear for me, father,” replied Winnie, taking a satisfied survey of her full-length figure, reflected in a pier-glass; “if Boston forgets Winnie Santon’s black eyes, she will be perfectly resigned in gazing into the soul-speaking orbs, which shall usurp her power.”

Other days than those which had been spent in sweet seclusion on Nantucket’s peaceful shores, now dawned upon the Sea-flower.  Although not a day passed in which she did not sigh for one dear familiar tone from those she loved so well, for her mother’s fond embrace, and the free, glad laugh of brother Harry, yet she was happy, excelling in those pursuits which seemed to recognize her touch; and her soft voice, as it were of Italian origin, grew to be “the sunshine of the house.”  As Biddy often declared, “it was a great saving of canary seed, to have Miss Natalie about the house.”

Time glided on apace with the Sea-flower, as each day brought some new task, calling into activity some talent which had been lying in a dormant state, awaiting its time for expanding.  Her teacher of music, an Italian by birth, and of great fame in his profession, was in raptures with the progress of his two pupils, and in the extraordinary talent displayed by the Sea-flower, was he perfectly amazed; for not only was her voice of that soft, mellow style, peculiar to the Italian people, but she performed those pieces which had but just been introduced to an American ear, with all that impassioned tenderness peculiar to that nation.