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 islanders, as you have imagined, being so unlike the inhabitants of
civilized lands, have such a natural propensity for wielding the
harpoon, that should a person differing from their kind appear amongst
them, they might be liable to capture him, mistaking the object for a