"Zounds!" said he to himself, as he went whistling up the street, "if I
don't hope they'll send down another document to her soon!" and his eyes
wandered up to the little patch of blue sky which was to be seen between
the tops of brick walls.

The Sea-flower perused the letter, and sat, apparently buried in deep
thought.

"Why, Natie, darling," exclaimed Winnie, as she came bounding into the
room, "what has given you such a wise look this morning? A letter, eh?
good news, I trust; far be the day which shall bring to you aught but
happiness."

"Thank you, thank you, Winnie, for your good wishes; but I cannot well
conceive of any other than pleasure coming from my gentle mother's pen."

Winnie ran her fingers lightly over the keys of the piano, and Natalie
did not suspect, as she listened to her sprightly air, that there was a
bright tear glistening in her eye at the holy name of--mother.

"But you are unusually thoughtful to-day, Natalie," said Winnie,
running her taper fingers through the sunny tresses of her friend, "did
I not know it were an impossibility, I should say you had lost your best
friend;" and putting her dimpled mouth close to her ear, she whispered
some mysterious words so softly,--so very softly, that were we disposed
to turn listener, we could only have distinguished that one
word,--"Delwood;" but we might have seen the delicate tinge of pink,
which, tell-tale like, overspread the face and neck of the Sea-flower.
Be that as it may, there was a thoughtful look lingering about those