rtist spoke
those few deep-toned words. I have not myself seen this wonder, and
whether I might be thus warm in my praises is a question, as you know I
am insensible to female beauty, if I may judge by remarks which from
time to time have come to my ear, in past years, from estimable mothers,
whose beautiful daughters ought to have called forth my glowing
sentiments; 'but that which is wanting cannot be numbered,'" said he,
stealing an arch glance at Natalie.

"I have not seen this painting," replied Natalie, her countenance
lighting up with a new thought, "but I have several times visited the
artist's rooms, though I have never been so fortunate as to get sight of
the mysterious connoisseur. Those who have met him, describe him as
being a middle-aged gentleman, of foreign birth, very marked in his
polite, graceful manners; yet there appears to be a great mystery
hanging about him, and some have ventured to remark that his is no
common history, that he is not merely what he pretends,--an obscure
artist! there is that about his bearing which denotes high birth. I have
admired his talent displayed, and must see this remarkable production;
for you know I am a great admirer of female beauty."

That night, Natalie mused over the events of the day,--the contents of
the letter which she had received, were first in her mind. Her mother
had expressed an earnest desire to see her child once more; among other
things, she had briefly made mention of a matter in regard to their
pecuniary affairs,--quite a little sum of the comfortable fortune which
Capt. Grosvenor had, by dint of the many perils at sea, accumulated, had
been lost in a recent bank failure;--a failure, as Mrs. Grosvenor
stated, which had proved a source of poverty to many a family, upon
their little island; many a widow had been obliged to part with the last
dollar, which had been earned by the seafaring husband, who had never
returned to share the benefit of his labors; Their whole community had
been more or less affected by this failure. As to Mrs. Grosvenor's own
loss, she had said it was not heavy, or, at least, she had spoken of it
as not resting heavily upon her spirits; why then should the
Sea-flower's thoughts dwell thus upon the matter?--she still mused--"I
fear this may have been a heavier loss, than the gentle words, so
characteristic of my mother's tenderness for me, may imply! she would
not, if it were in her power to prevent, have me feel that I must
c