Jonas thought that they ought to be up earlier.

The sun rose soon after, and the fields on every side sparkled by the reflection of his rays, from the crystalline surface of the snow.

Tall columns of dense white smoke ascended from the chimneys, some erect, others leaning a little, some one way, some another.

In a word, it was a cold, still, winter morning.
At length, as Jonas was walking his horses up a long hill, he heard light footsteps behind him.

He turned round to see what was coming, and, to his utter astonishment, he saw Franco, coming up, upon the full run, and close behind the sleigh.