"Oh, never fear for me, father," replied Winnie, taking a satisfied
survey of her full-length figure, reflected in a pier-glass; "if Boston
forgets Winnie Santon's black eyes, she will be perfectly resigned in
gazing into the soul-speaking orbs, which shall usurp her power."
Other days than those which had been spent in sweet seclusion on
Nantucket's peaceful shores, now dawned upon the Sea-flower. Although
not a day passed in which she did not sigh for one dear familiar tone
from those she loved so well, for her mother's fond embrace, and the
free, glad laugh of brother Harry, yet she was happy, excelling in those
pursuits which seemed to recognize her touch; and her soft voice, as it
were of Italian origin, grew to be "the sunshine of the house." As Biddy
often declared, "it was a great saving of canary seed, to have Miss
Natalie about the house."
Time glided on apace with the Sea-flower, as each day brought some new
task, calling into activity some talent which had been lying in a
dormant state, awaiting its time for expanding. Her teacher of music, an
Italian by birth, and of great fame in his profession, was in raptures
with the progress of his two pupils, and in the extraordinary talent
displayed by the Sea-flower, was he perfectly amazed; for not only was
her voice of that soft, mellow style, peculiar to the Italian people,
but she performed those pieces which had but just been introduced to an
American ear, with all that impassioned tenderness peculiar to
that nation.
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