Young Menocal had persuaded Louise to leave her household duties for the moment to sit on the veranda and talk with him.

But now had come this impudent upstart! Charlie's warning of someone at hand was when Louise ceased to speak and gazed intently along the lane.

His annoyance at the interruption changed to a quick jealousy as his companion rose, descended the steps, bade the engineer welcome, and extended her hand in greeting.
Bryant explained that he was dropping Dave here to take the stage for Kennard when it came along after dinner.

He himself was riding on.
"He'll eat dinner with us, of course, and I'll put him aboard the stage myself," she exclaimed, with a pat on the shoulder of the boy who had now dismounted.

"Won't you stop for a moment, Mr.Bryant?
I'll give you a glass of fresh buttermilk to speed you on your way; a stirrup cup, we'll call it.