“I by no means require that all my acquaintance should make a mint of money,” answered Mrs. Delano.  “I am very much pleased with the account you give of this young Blumenthal.  When you next see him, give him my compliments, and tell him I should be happy to become acquainted with him.”

Flora dropped on her knees and hid her face in her friend’s lap.  She didn’t express her thanks in words, but she cried a little.

“This is more serious than I supposed,” thought Mrs. Delano.

A fortnight afterward, she obtained an interview with Mr. Goldwin, and asked, “What is your estimate of that young Mr. Blumenthal, who has been for some time in your employ?”

“He is a modest young man, of good habits,” answered the merchant; “and of more than common business capacity.”

“Would you be willing to receive him as a partner?” she inquired.

“The young man is poor,” rejoined Mr. Goldwin; “and we have many applications from those who can advance some capital.”

“If a friend would loan him ten thousand dollars for twenty years, and leave it to him by will in case she should die meanwhile, would that be sufficient to induce you?” said the lady.

“I should be glad to do it, particularly if it obliges you, Mrs. Delano,” responded the merchant; “for I really think him a very worthy young man.”

“Then consider it settled,” she replied.  “But let it be an affair between ourselves, if you please; and to him you may merely say that a friend of his former employer and benefactor wishes to assist him.”

When Blumenthal informed Flora of this unexpected good-fortune, they of course suspected from whom it came; and they looked at each other, and blushed.

Mrs. Delano did not escape gossiping remarks.  “How she has changed!” said Mrs. Ton to Mrs. Style.  “She used to be the most fastidious of exclusives; and now she has adopted nobody knows whom, and one of Mr. Goldwin’s clerks seems to be on the most familiar footing there.  I should have no objection to invite the girl to my parties, for she is Mrs. Delano’s adoptee, and she would really be an ornament to my rooms, besides being very convenient and an accomplished musician; but, of course, I don’t wish my daughters to be introduced to that nobody of a clerk.”

“She has taken up several of the Abolitionists too,” rejoined Mrs. Style.  “My husband looked into an anti-slavery meeting the other evening, partly out of curiosity to hear what Garrison had to say, and partly in hopes of obtaining some clew to a fugitive slave that one of his Southern friends had written to him about.  And who should he see there, of all people in the world, but Mrs. Delano and her adoptee, escorted by that young clerk.  Think of her, with her dove-colored silks and violet gloves, crowded and jostled by Dinah and Sambo!  I expect the next thing we shall hear will be that she has given a negro party.”