her," and hastily making her toilet, she repaired to the drawing-room.

Mrs. Santon was alone, for it was a full hour before the family's usual
time for arising. Winnie bade her mother "good morning," and was about
to ask if she had rested well in her new home, when she was interrupted
by her, and in an imperative tone she said:--

"This may be earlier than you have been accustomed to 'rising, Miss
Santon, but my habits for early rising are proverbial, and of course my
household will conform to my wishes in regard to matters which you will
at once see are for the best. What I wished to speak with you more
particularly about this morning, is in regard to the keys; you will
please produce them, as I shall have a thorough overhauling at once, and
if I mistake not," said she, glancing at Winnie's neat morning attire,
"the sooner the better, for I think those jewelled hands have not
troubled themselves much about such things. I wonder that you have not
been brought up to something beside killing time!"

"Madam!" vociferated Winnie, her face crimsoned with the insult which
she had received, but she paused, though still trembling with rage, her
eye had rested on a gentle form, standing within the open door--it was
the Sea-flower. With one finger upon her lip, her brow calm as the new
day, she gazed upon Winnie, till gaining her eye, unobserved by Mrs.
Santon she glided away. Instead of the rage Winnie would have poured
forth, she merely said, "I will send you the keys," and left the room.
Despatching a servant with the keys, which she had intended to have put
into her hands at the earliest opportunity, thereby acknowledging her
superior claim at once, she sought Natalie, whom she found seated in the
conservatory, enjoying the Indian summer breeze, which stole softly in
among the fragrant plants, which were the particular objects of her