“Sampson!” exclaimed Natalie, actually taking him by the hand, “Are you John Sampson?”

“I’m Sampson the world over, my lady,” replied the tar, “and why shouldn’t I be?  I’ve come all the way from Yankee America, to visit my native dust-heap, which never produced, beside its daily growth of what might be known the other side of the water, as nature’s own pie-plant and sausage-improver, but one Sampson; but,” added he, in a subdued voice, “may I ask who can take enough interest in a poor fellow, who never belonged to nothing, as to speak his name?  If I had not seen her go down with my own eyes, I should say that the noblest lady that ever lived was standing before me; but she’s gone where only her kind do go;” and the rough man drew the sleeve of his jacket across his eyes.

“I am the sister of a little sailor-boy, whom you once rescued from imminent peril,—­perhaps death; and I rejoice that fortune has favored me with a sight of your honest face, that I may repay in part, at least, the debt of gratitude which we owe to you,—­Harry Grosvenor, do you remember him?” asked she, placing her well-filled purse in his hand.

“Ah, that noble little specimen of young America! a young hero!—­could have jumped over two Johnny Bulls, although my dust-heap happened to be this side of the water.  Well do I remember him! and you are the sister that he used to talk about, till I really thought the fellow had got into a lunatic’s overall?”

“Yes, I am his sister,” said the Sea-flower, and she might have added,—­your name has never been forgotten in my prayers; but this was no place for the illiterate, though good-hearted sailor’s ludicrous expressions, and having doubly feed the guide, who did not witness a scene like this often, within these walls, which were looked upon as sacred by other than his eagle eye, our friends sought the Adelphi, whither, at Mr. Alboni’s request, Sampson joined them; for there was something in the words which he had uttered, that struck upon that gentleman’s ear; and yet, what it was, was not clear to his mind.

“You have spoken of some noble lady,” remarked Mr. Alboni; “pray tell me if you have never met with but one whom you could distinguish by that title, in all your travels?”

“And for a very sensible reason; there never was but one like her; or, that is, I have always thought so until to-day,” replied the tar, glancing toward Natalie; “for my old eyes have seen pretty much everything they have got in this little world.  Ha!  I should like to see the inch of land or water that my foot hasn’t measured.”

“Let us hear a little of your history, my good fellow:  begin with the beautiful lady,” said Mr. Alboni, proudly contemplating his grand-daughter.