It was necessary for Captain Wilde to go again to some settlement down the river, to get hinges, locks, window-sashes, glass, etc., for the new house, which was to be ready for those finishing touches, by the time of his return. He did not know, when he set out, whether he would go as far as Center City, or stop at some smaller point nearer home. One day, about the time of his expected return, Ben had gone for Alice, to get her opinion about some part of the house. They stood together, on the outside, consulting about it, so interested in the detail that they neither of them noticed the boat upon the river, until it was moored to the bank, and the voice of the raftsman was heard calling to them. Both turned at the same moment and saw that Philip Moore was in company with Mr. Wilde. Ben's eyes fixed themselves instantly upon Alice's face, which was first pale and then red. He saw the great throb her heart gave, heard the sudden catch in her breath; and he was still looking at her when Philip sprang gayly up the path and seized her hand--the man who loved her better than life saw all the blushes of womanhood coming and going upon her face at the touch of another's hand. A threatening blackness clouded his brow; Alice saw it, and knew that he read her secret by the light of his own passion; she almost shuddered at the dark look which he flashed upon Philip; but her father was calling for assistance to unload his craft, and Ben went forward without speaking. "What a surly fellow that is, for one so good-looking and young," remarked Philip, carelessly, looking after him. "He is not always so surly," Alice felt constrained to say in his defense: "he's vexed now about something." "But that's an ill-tempered look for a youthful face, Alice. I'm afraid he'd hardly make a woman very happy--eh, Alice?" "That's a matter which does not interest me, Mr. Moore, I assure you," answered the young girl, with an unexpected flash of pride. CHAPTER VI. THE COLD HOUSE-WARMING.