ere," she scornfully said, and
turned to leave the room. Winnie had it upon her tongue's end to reply,
"My father employs his servants to keep his house in order, and they
have never failed to give satisfaction," but biting her lip, the thought
died away. Natalie arrested Mrs. Santon's steps, saying, "Winnie and
myself will consider it a pleasure to assist you, and whatever we can do
at any time for your enjoyment, we shall be most happy to do it." The
hard-hearted woman quailed a little, at the Sea-flower's proffered
assistance, and Natalie accompanied her to the upper drawing-room,
wondering much what could have given offence to her ideas of a
well-regulated house; for under the housekeeper's scrupulous care,
everything was kept in the nicest order. Desiring Natalie to assist her
in the disposal of some articles, she directed Winnie to find some
out-of-the-way place, and to stow away the rubbish which she would find
in the next apartment, pointing to the room which had been her mother's,
and which Winnie had not permitted any one to disturb, since her death.
Everything had been left just as she had left it, even some withered
flowers had not been removed, and the book from which she had read, had
been left opened at the place her eye had last looked upon. This room
had been kept as a place sacred to Winnie's heart, and indeed the very
servants passed it by with a blessing on their departed mistress; and it
was now with trembling steps that Winnie, hardly realizing what had been
said to her, followed in the direction which the cruel woman had
pointed. She opened the door, and sank fainting into a chair! In the
middle of the floor were the very clothes which her mother had worn,
with other articles thrown together in a pile! her mother's portrait
had been removed, and the room was otherwise in disorder. Natalie ran to
Winnie's assistance, bathing her temples, and smoothing back her long
tresses with tenderness. Just at that moment Mr. Santon entered the
room; he looked at his daughter! at the disordered apartment of his
buried wife, which he had never held more sacred, and he looked at Mrs.
Santon! Without speaking a word he left the room. Poor Winnie! this is
indeed life's lesson! but thou art learning to "suffer and be strong."

Had the character of the mother-in-law been in accordance with her
exterior, Santon Mansion might still have resounded with joy, for hers
was a face by no means forbidding. On the contrary, a s