They strolled on, and George felt mildly curious about them.  The girl was pretty and graceful, with a stamp of refinement upon her; the man was essentially rugged and rather grim.  Suddenly, however, a whistle blast rang out, and George hurried toward the engine.  It was beginning to move when he reached it but, grasping a hand-rail, he clambered up.  The cab was already full of passengers, but he had found a place on the frame above the wheels when he saw the girl in the light dress running, flushed and eager, along the line.  Leaning down as far as possible, he held out his hand to her.

“Get hold, if you want to come,” he called.  “There’s a step yonder.”

She seized his hand and smiled at him when he drew her up beside him.

“Thanks,” she said.  “I was nearly too late.”

“Perhaps we had better make for the pilot, where there’ll be more room,” George suggested, as two more passengers scrambled up.

They crept forward, holding on by the guard-rail, while the great engine began to rock as it gathered speed.  The girl, however, was fearless, and at length they reached the front, and stood beneath the big head-lamp with the triangular frame of the pilot running down to the rails at their feet.  The ledge along the top of it was narrow, and when his companion sat down George felt concerned about her safety.  Her hat had blown back, setting free tresses of glossy hair; her light skirt fluttered against the sooty pilot.

“You’ll have to allow me,” he said, tucking the thin fabric beneath her and passing an arm around her waist.

He thought she bore it well, for her manner was free from prudish alarm or coquettish submission.  With sound sense, she had calmly acquiesced in the situation; but George found the latter pleasant.  His companion was pretty, the swift motion had brought a fine warmth into her cheeks, and a sparkle into her eyes; and George was slightly vexed when Edgar, appearing round the front of the engine, unnoticed by the girl, surveyed him with a grin.

“Is there room for me?” he asked.  “I had to leave the place where I was, because my fellow passengers didn’t seem to mind if they pushed me off.  A stranger doesn’t get much consideration in this country.”

The girl looked up at him consideringly and answered, through the roar of the engine: 

“You may sit here, if you’ll stop criticizing us.”

“It’s quite fair,” Edgar protested, as he took his place by her side.  “I’ve been in Canada only three days, but I’ve several times heard myself alluded to as an Englishman, as if that were some excuse for me.”

“Are you sure you haven’t been provoking people by your superior air?”

“I didn’t know I possessed one; but I don’t see why I should be very humble because I’m in Canada.”

The girl laughed good-humoredly, and turned to George.

“I’m glad I came.  This is delightful,” she said.