It was to be white as snow, with the Ash plantation behind it and gardens all around and the river washing their outskirts and telling him as he sat in the evenings--with Jane at his side--where it had come from and what it had seen and heard during the day.
He went to sleep in this visionary house and did not awaken until the sun was high up and hurrying men and women to work.

So he rose quickly, for he counted himself among this working-class, felt his responsibilities, and began to reckon with the difficulties he had to meet and the appointments he could not decline.

He had promised to see his overseer at half-past nine, and he knew Jonathan would have a few disagreeable words ready, if he broke his promise--words it was better to avoid than to notice or discount.
At half-past eight he was ready to ride to the mill.

His gig was waiting, but he chose his saddle horse, because the creature so lovingly neighed and neighed to the sound of his approaching footsteps, evidently rejoicing to see him, and pawing the ground with his impatience to feel him in the saddle.

John could not resist the invitation.