They had now been married eleven years, and six other children claimed their love and care; six children—boys and girls—with their ages ranging from one year old to nine. They were not rich. They owned the homestead, farm, and improvements upon the latter, but beyond this they did not possess a thousand dollars. Dr. Hardcastle’s practice was very extensive, and very profitable to—his patients; not very enriching to himself. With a large and growing family, with a strong and sympathetic nature, generous heart, and open hand and purse, how could Magnus Hardcastle grow rich? Indeed he must have been much poorer than he was but for the efficient aid of his “woman-kind.” Mrs. Garnet had gradually assumed to herself the responsibility of the needlework of the family. Elsie did all the housework. Hugh Hutton constituted himself hewer of wood and drawer of water, stock-driver and feeder, gardener, assistant nurse and tutor, doctor’s boy, big brother, and helper-in-general to the establishment. And he found time, besides, for the systematic and assiduous study of medicine, so that within the last year he had been dubbed by the neighbors the young doctor of the professional firm. For the last two years Hugh had spent the winters in an Eastern city, attending lectures at the Medical College. Upon these occasions he usually left home upon the 1st of December and returned upon the 1st of March. This was the last winter of his purposed migrations East, and his friends at home were expecting his return with unusual impatience. The 1st of March had come, however, and he had not yet arrived. A letter from him had informed his friends that he remained in the city for the purpose of presenting himself before the medical board of examination as a candidate for a diploma. The family were now in daily expectation either of his arrival or of another letter. It was upon the evening of the 7th of March, then, that the commodious family room of the house was occupied by Mrs. Garnet and six children of Elsie’s. This room was well warmed and lighted by a large fire of pine logs in the chimney, and a couple of lighted candles upon the mantelpiece. The supper-table was set, and supper was ready to be served as soon as the doctor should get in from his rounds. It had not long to wait; for soon Dr. Hardcastle was seen to ride into the yard, dismount, and take off his saddle-bags and booted spurs, and, great coated as he was, came into the house. As soon as he set foot within the room the children swarmed upon him like bees upon a sunflower stalk, or the Lilliputians upon Gulliver; and he lifted and kissed them one by one, but looking around impatiently the while for one he loved even more than all these little ones—to wit, the mother. At last: “Where is Elsie, Mrs. Garnet?” he asked.