ffair to-night! I'm thinking," remarked Montague, as he
observed Delwood's cool indifference, and endeavoring to draw him into
conversation, he added, "there's a young _protege_ of Santon's, staying
with his daughter, who, I hear, hails from down east. Nantucket, I
believe, perhaps we may get a little information on harpooning!"

"Ah?" said Delwood, mechanically.

"Yes, the boys will have some sport I'm thinking; perhaps some of them
may be induced to ship as mate, for a down east voyage! I remember of
sailing by Nantucket many years ago, on my return from Liverpool, (he
did not add that he had worked his passage) and though some twenty miles
distant, we fancied that we got a whiff of the hump-backs. Our captain
was a jolly sort of fellow, and would have us land-lubbers believe that
his experienced eye could see half across the ocean, but he found we
were too smart for him, when he told us he could see a church-steeple
looming up on the island, for of course we knew that such things were
not raised there."

Much to Mr. Delwood's relief, they had now arrived at Mr. Santon's
residence. As the name of Delwood was announced, all eyes were turned
toward him, for his presence was considered a great acquisition to any
circle, and many a fair one envied Winnie Santon, as he claimed her hand
for the first dance. The Sea-flower stood by Mrs. Santon's side, that
she might attend to her least wish, when young Montague, disappointed
that he had not been the first to secure the hand of Winnie, in an
obsequious manner, solicited the pleasure of Miss Grosvenor's company,
to complete the set, but she politely declining the honor, the young
man, by the aid of the brass which constituted no small portion of his
composition, begged leave to remain by her side, that he might make some
few inquiries in regard to her enchanting home, which place he always
had a great desire to visit.

"The islanders I suppose are mostly fishermen, yet," added he, glancing
rudely into her face, "there are some persons of intelligence among
them, are there not?"

Natalie looked at him for a moment, as if in doubt whether ignorance or
some meaner motive had prompted the question, when she remarked, "you
evidently have never learned of the great dangers attendant upon a
stranger's visit to Nantucket."

"Ah, indeed, I shall be under great obligations for the information,"
said he, his eyes wide open with curiosity! "pray, what are
those dangers?"

"The is