“Hugh coming home this evening? Oh, I am so glad! Children, children, did you hear? Brother Hugh is coming home this evening.”
“Brother Hugh is come!” said a pleasant voice, as the door opened, and Hugh Hutton stood among them.
All arose, and Magnus and Elsie hastened to meet him.
“Dear friends,” he said, shaking hands right and left, “I could not resist the desire I felt to go to the window and look in upon you while you were all at your quiet evening occupations. I have been watching you for the last two minutes.”
“You rogue! But come to the fire, come to the fire. Supper is just ready,” said Dr. Hardcastle, while Hugh threw off his great-coat, and laid it aside with his hat. “Oh, Hugh, we are so glad to see you! Had you a pleasant journey? What time did you get to the village? You have traveled day and night, I am afraid? And then you have walked from the village here?”
“Yes; I couldn’t have got a horse for two or three hours; and I really couldn’t wait, I was so eager to get home.”
“Dear Hugh, you must be so tired and hungry! Here, sit down in this chair near the fire,” said Elsie, pushing a chair forward with one hand, while she held the child with the other arm.
Hugh threw himself into the chair, and mechanically stretched out his arms and took the crowing, laughing infant from its mother, and set it upon his knee, playing with it all the time he talked to others.
“Oh, have you got your diploma, Hugh? Let’s see the document with our own eyes,” said Dr. Hardcastle, coming forward.
“Yes; here it is,” said Hugh, rooting in his pocket with one hand, while he hugged the baby up with the other. “Here it is. I took it out of my trunk to bring along as a sort of credential that your years of kindness have not been thrown away upon me, my best friend;” and Hugh produced the parchment, and laid it on the table.