“Why, that is perfectly beautiful!” said Mrs. Delano.  “I don’t know how you could contrive to give it such an air of lightness and grace.  I used to think shell-work heavy, and rather vulgar, till I saw those beautiful productions at Nassau.  But you excel your teacher, my dear Miss Gonsalez.  I should think the sea-fairies made this.”

Four or five other articles were brought forth from the boxes and examined with similar commendation.  Then they fell into a pleasant chat about their reminiscences of Nassau; and diverged from that to speak of the loveliness of their lonely little island, and the increasing beauty of the season.  After a while, Flora looked at her watch, and said, “I must not stay long, for I didn’t tell anybody I was going away.”

Mrs. Delano, who caught a glimpse of the medallion inserted in the back, said:  “That is a peculiar little watch.  Have you the hair of some friend set in it?”

“No,” replied Flora.  “It is the likeness of my father.”  She slipped the slight chain from her neck, and placed the watch in the lady’s hand.  Her face flushed as she looked at it, but the habitual paleness soon returned.

“You were introduced to me as a Spanish young lady,” said she, “but this face is not Spanish.  What was your father’s name?”

“Mr. Alfred Royal of New Orleans,” answered Flora.

“But your name is Gonsalez,” said she.

Flora blushed crimson with the consciousness of having betrayed the incognito assumed at Nassau.  “Gonsalez was my mother’s name,” she replied, gazing on the floor while she spoke.

Mrs. Delano looked at her for an instant, then, drawing her gently toward her, she pressed her to her side, and said with a sigh, “Ah, Flora, I wish you were my daughter.”

“O, how I wish I was!” exclaimed the young girl, looking up with a sudden glow; but a shadow immediately clouded her expressive face, as she added, “But you wouldn’t want me for a daughter, if you knew everything about me.”

The lady was obviously troubled.  “You seem to be surrounded by mysteries, my little friend,” responded she.  “I will not ask you for any confidence you are unwilling to bestow.  But I am a good deal older than you, and I know the world better than you do.  If anything troubles you, or if you are doing anything wrong, perhaps if you were to tell me, I could help you out of it.”

“O, no, I’m not doing anything wrong,” replied Floracita, eagerly.  “I never did anything wrong in my life.”  Seeing a slight smile hovering about the lady’s lips, she made haste to add:  “I didn’t mean exactly that.  I mean I never did anything very wrong.  I’m cross sometimes, and I have told some fibititas; but then I couldn’t seem to help it, things were in such a tangle.  It comes more natural to me to tell the truth.”

“That I can readily believe,” rejoined Mrs. Delano.  “But I am not trying to entrap your ingenuousness into a betrayal of your secrets.  Only remember one thing; if you ever do want to open your heart to any one, remember that I am your true friend, and that you can trust me.”