"This place isn't warm enough for you, Miss Nellie." He turned and walked to the wood-box, and after glancing into it carefully straightened out its covering.

Then he strode towards the door, and stopped a moment before he opened it.

"Excuse!" he said simply.

"No, don't you worry; I know just where the saw and lantern are, and Charley, who comes from the old country, can talk to you for me." He went out in another moment, but the fact that he was very weary did not escape the attention of the girl, who also noticed the absence of any unnecessary questions or explanations.

Alton was, she knew already, one who did things the better because he did them silently.
Still, it was Seaforth whom, when nobody observed her, her eyes rested most upon.
It was half an hour before the former returned with a load of scented firewood upon his back, and, saying nothing, filled the box with it, packing each piece where it best fitted deliberately but swiftly; then he passed through the room into an adjoining one, and returned attired picturesquely in Jack Townshead's overalls, which were distinctly too small for him.