“I told you his honor would come again!” said the woman, turning to her husband; “but I was really afeared it mightn’t be in our time; and as we’ve no one to leave in our shoes, I’m of the ’pinion that the place would’ve dropped off to some stranger.”

“Ha, yes,” replied the husband, “my old woman’s never far out o’ the way, though she does sometimes talk as if she expected to become extinguished; but for all that, she’s equal to two common ones.  But I’m particularly glad you’ve come home, on a good many ’counts, for if the place must go into any other hands than an Alboni, I’m not over anxious to witness the change in the coat of arms.”

Mr. Alboni received this compliment as it was intended, and as one motive in visiting his native land again was to dispose of this estate, he now directed his attention to the future comfort of this most worthy couple; for the domestics who had served in the family of Alboni, must not suffer from want.  Accordingly a comfortable cottage, adjoining these lands, was obtained for their use, and an annual income, sufficient to supply their wants, settled upon them for life; and so with the estate of the Albonis, whose last representative of the name would soon depart, for a memorial of days past, this aged couple hoped to spend in contentment the residue of their days.

Amid all the splendor and gayety of fashionable life in Italy, the Sea-flower was never so happy as when seated in the ivy bower, which looked out upon a little lake, the same which had been her mother’s favorite place of retreat, where she might watch the ever-changing face of the mellow skies, or roaming through those ancient halls, she might feast her eyes on the many antique surroundings; but most of all, she loved to linger in the great reception hall, whose walls were hung with the portraits of her mother’s family, for many past generations.  Some of those countenances denoted men of much strength of character, amounting almost to a fierceness, but in nearly every female face Natalie discerned that same gentleness of spirit, which, unknown to herself, was the expression of her own spiritual countenance.  Beneath the portrait of the last Mrs. Alboni was a place reserved for that of her child,—­the Lady Sunderland; but by some circumstance it had never been placed there.  During the period of our heroine’s stay in Italy, she spent much of her time in the home of her ancestors, to which she became greatly attached; but once having been introduced to an admiring Italian assembly, it was no easy matter to remain in seclusion.  This new star, so mild, yet brilliant, was the theme of present conversation.  She never appeared in public, but the blessings of high and low marked her way; and as she knelt in public worship, meekly bowing at the name of Christ, there was not one who looked upon her, but this passage of Scripture was brought to their minds,—­“If the righteous scarcely are saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?”