“My dear,” said Mrs. Santon, turning to Natalie, “in the pleasure which we must ever find in Mr. Delwood’s society, you have forgotten your engagement with the destitute family, which you have taken under your especial charge, and poor Mrs. Brown’s child is so ill, I fear a few hours’ delay in taking the necessary restoratives recommended by our physician, may cause the poor thing to suffer; I would despatch an attendant, but I fear there may be some mistake made, and I know your very presence will impart comfort to the poor woman.”

“Oh, no, I had not forgotten them,” replied Natalie; “but the physician said any time this afternoon would do, as the little sufferer’s disease is about turning, and we must await the result.”

“Yes, but I have such an anxiety about them, for in their ignorance they may act contrary to orders, and so be the means of the little fellow’s death.  It will be a great relief to my mind if you will just step around and look in upon them, as it is but a step, and I know Mr. Delwood will excuse you for a few moments, and I will promise to do my best to supply your absence.”

Natalie prepared to depart on this errand of mercy, and Delwood would have taken his hat to accompany her, but Mrs. Santon held him fast by commencing a brisk conversation, from which he could not with politeness take himself away.

“Miss Grosvenor excels in her performance of the latest style, which the Signor has introduced,” remarked Mrs. Santon, endeavoring to draw him out, when the Sea-flower had departed.

“I am perfectly amazed at her original rendering of the Italian,” replied Delwood, “and I think I can safely say, that among all my sojournings among their people, I have never met with one whose style is more pure than that of Miss Grosvenor’s.  I should certainly say that she is of Italian birth, though she tells me that she has never crossed the Atlantic.”

“She is evidently captivated with their people, or perhaps I may more properly say, with the only person she has ever met of that nation,” said Mrs. Santon, with a mysterious manner.

“To what or whom do you refer?” asked Delwood, in an altered tone of voice.

“Mr. Delwood, I feel that it is my duty to inform you of a matter, which has been a source of no little uneasiness, not only to myself, but to every member of my family; and as you have shown a manifest interest in Miss Grosvenor, it is not well that you should remain in ignorance of what so deeply concerns your welfare.”

“Speak! what can it be?” asked Delwood, pale with emotion.