four o'clock
The cowman , remembering with considerable pain the conversation with his daughter , told his employé frankly that he had better give up any such ideas as evidently possessed him . Stelton , who had with some right formerly felt he might count on the favorable attitude of his chief , was astounded , and took the venom of the curt refusal to heart . Retiring without betraying his emotion , he had resolved to speak to the girl herself , and that same afternoon asked permission to accompany her on her daily ride across the prairies , a thing not unusual with him . Juliet , although she wished to be alone , consented , and at four o'clock they set out , unobserved by Bissell . It was not until they had turned their horses homeward that Stelton spoke , almost tongue-tied by the emotions that rent him , alternate waves of fear and hope . `` Miss Julie , '' he began , `` I allow I 've known you a long while . '' `` Yes , Mike , you have . ''