Chapters Six through Ten Summary and Analysis

About six months after her family's arrival, Elspeth has several neighbors, including a young educated man named Alec Wilson who depends greatly on books for his information. Elspeth notes that there are few factual documents that include useful, correct information for their farming projects. On the other side of their river is a man named Jock Nimmo, a Scotsman who is often away on hunting trips, leaving his wife behind. Mrs. Nimmo has a nursing background but seems to resent being called on to nurse people, citing her lack of supplies for adequate care.

There is soon news of another couple arriving in the area named Hereward and Lettice Palmer. He is a former military man and she is self-confident and stylish but fits fairly well into the life of the region. The Palmers have...