r
innocence! and if such a thing might be possible, I would die rather
than be forced to believe it! I will tell her this very day what I have
heard, but I will not degrade myself, or forfeit her trust, by asking
her if it can be so!"

"Be calm, my dear friend," said Mrs. Santon; "compose yourself, I pray
you, and take my advice in the matter. Say nothing of what you have
heard to any one, but come here to-morrow morning at ten, when the
Signor will make his appearance, and from a private window, opening from
the conservatory, you may, unknown to any one, witness for yourself the
truth of what I have said."

"I will follow your advice, inasmuch as I will reveal to no one what I
have heard, until I become like myself," said Delwood, endeavoring to
compose himself as he heard the light step of the Sea-flower in the
hall; and as she entered, he arose to depart, pleading a slight
indisposition as an apology for his abruptness.

The calm, spiritual eyes of Natalie looked out upon him, as he walked
rapidly down the street, for she could not but notice an estrangement in
his manners; but she did not mistrust that an arrow, poisoned by sin in
its vilest form, had been aimed at his heart.

The starry heavens of that night told that another day had gone to be
with the past, and innocence laid her head upon her pillow and slept,
unmindful of plots of guilt, engendered of sin, which might prove for
her a draught of bitterness.

At an early hour the following morning, Clarence Delwood bent his steps
towards the residence of Mr. Santon. "Come here to-morrow, and you shall
see for yourself,"--those words still sounded in his ears, and, as he
drew nearer the house, it seemed as if they grew louder and louder, till
his brain was nearly distracted. But would he privately watch her ways,
whom of all others in the "wide, wide world," he had looked upon as
nearest perfection? No, he would not thus debase himself.

It was at a much earlier hour than that which Mrs. Santon had named,
that Delwood presented himself, and handsomely feeing the porter who
answered his summons, he asked to see Miss Santon; "and, James," said
he, "you need mention my presence to no other member of the family, as
my business is strictly private, for Miss Santon's ear alone."

"Yes, sir," replied James, twisting his face info a most knowing wink,
as he smiled upon the yellow ore, "I've been there before."

Winnie soon made her appearance with no little aston