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. He sent the
uncaring gig away, laid his arm across Bendigo's neck, and his cheek
against Bendigo's cheek. Then he whispered a few words in his ear and
leaped into the saddle as only a Yorkshireman or a gypsy can leap, and
Bendigo, thrilling with delight, carried his master swiftly away from
the gig and its driver, neighing with triumph as he passed them.

When about halfway to the mill he met Miss Harlow returning home from
her early morning walk. She was dressed with extreme simplicity in a
short frock of pink corduroy, and a sailor hat of coarse Dunstable
straw, with a pink ribbon round it. Long, soft, white leather gauntlets
covered her hands, and she carried in them a little basket of straw,
full of bluebells and ferns. John saw her approaching and he noticed the
lift of her head and the lift of her foot and said to himself, "Proud!
Proud!" but in his heart he thought no harm of her stately, graceful
carriage. To him she was a most beautiful girl, fresh and fair and,

--graceful as the mountain doe,
That sniffs the forest air,
Bringing the smell of the heather bell,
In the tresses of her hair.

They met, they clasped hands, they looked into each other's eyes, and
something sweet and subtle passed between them. "I am so glad, so glad
to see you," said John, and Miss Harlow said the same words, and then
added, "Where have you been? I