At an early hour the following morning, Clarence Delwood bent his steps towards the residence of Mr. Santon.  “Come here to-morrow, and you shall see for yourself,”—­those words still sounded in his ears, and, as he drew nearer the house, it seemed as if they grew louder and louder, till his brain was nearly distracted.  But would he privately watch her ways, whom of all others in the “wide, wide world,” he had looked upon as nearest perfection?  No, he would not thus debase himself.

It was at a much earlier hour than that which Mrs. Santon had named, that Delwood presented himself, and handsomely feeing the porter who answered his summons, he asked to see Miss Santon; “and, James,” said he, “you need mention my presence to no other member of the family, as my business is strictly private, for Miss Santon’s ear alone.”

“Yes, sir,” replied James, twisting his face info a most knowing wink, as he smiled upon the yellow ore, “I’ve been there before.”

Winnie soon made her appearance with no little astonishment pictured in her countenance, that Mr. Delwood should have honored them with what she termed “a sunrise call;” and that he should have asked for her in particular, was a matter more mysterious.  His manners, so unlike himself, served to check at once her flow of spirits, which, in spite of the weight of oppression which had marked the last year, would find vent, if not in a witty remark, in the expression of her speaking countenance was it visible; but she was not slow to discern that some serious subject was upon his mind, and became serious also.

In a few words he informed her of what he had learned from Mrs. Santon the day previous, but what was his astonishment to find her totally ignorant of the circumstances, not hesitating to declare the whole a base falsehood.

“I had not a doubt of the falsity of the report,” said Delwood; “but what can have given rise to such a statement?  Surely, your mother would not wish to injure my feelings, by repeating what may have originated, without foundation, among the servants, and which she could not have herself credited!”

Winnie saw the truth at once, knowing as she did the character of her, whom, if she had ever looked upon as a mother, must from this moment forfeit every claim upon her feelings, unless it were that of utter contempt.

“Mr. Delwood,” said she, raising herself to her full height, her slender fingers clenched together, every nerve ’roused to action,—­“if you would not insult me, never again call the woman who has had the heart to cast such a slur upon the character of her whom we know is innocent, my mother!  It is not to injure your feelings that she has invented such a vile scheme, but it is by injuring Natalie’s character in your eyes, she may banish from her heart all future happiness.  Nay, do not start at such a strange declaration from my lips; you are the only person, out of my father’s household, who has a suspicion that our happiness is not what it once was; but since it has come to this, I will, at the risk of disclosing to the world what it were wisdom to conceal, establish the innocent; and rest assured that what I say is true,—­this originated not among the servants, for there is not one but would kneel and kiss the very ground upon which our dear Sea-flower treads.”