Miss Purvis

“ The tall gentleman moved towards Miss Purvis. They meekly hung on his heels. He addressed to them remarks to which they scarcely ventured to reply. He eyed the lady. Then glanced towards me. I wondered what was the connection which he supposed existed between us. Something menacing was in his air. He hovered above the helpless girl as a hawk might above a pigeon. Stretching out his cruel-looking hand he thrust it almost in her face. I expected to see her subjected to some fresh indignity, and felt that, if she were, then rage might give me strength to break the bonds which shackled me. ”

“ I am not expecting anybody—to tea, Christina," slowly replied Miss Purvis, avoiding her niece's gaze. "What a beautiful afternoon it is," she added hastily. "Are you not going a walk this afternoon, Christina? The fine weather will soon be over, and you ought to take advantage of it. Really, you ought."
Christina eyed her aunt steadily, but said nothing.
"I don't know when I saw such a beautiful afternoon," the spinster continued nervously. "It is really remarkable for the time of year. It is almost a sin to waste it indoors. It is indeed! ”

“ This is Miss Purvis, the feminine friend whom Miss Blyth chose to be her sole companion. Other conditions were attached to the bequest equally mysterious. Indeed, it would really seem as if there was something in that house in Camford Street the existence of which the late Mr. Batters was particularly anxious should be concealed from the world. Miss Blyth only entered on the occupation of her property yesterday. Yet Miss Purvis came at an early hour this morning to tell me that something extraordinary had happened in the middle of the night. ”

“ Miss Purvis drew herself up. She pointed to the penny on the counter.
"That's your Saturday penny, Christina——"
"Thenk ye, auntie."
"You will run after the children at once, give them that penny, and tell them to buy sweets with it—from yourself."
"No' likely!"
"Then I must do so myself," said Miss Purvis.
There was a silence.
"Aweel," said the girl slowly. "I'll gang." She went round to the door. "What'll I dae if he's broke the monkey?"
"You have nothing to do with the monkey. I expect you'll find the little boy crying because of your cruelty." ”

“ A small man like Purvis always tries to be important, and to make every one believe that he alone holds the key to mysteries, and that no one can get on without him. I don't at present see how he can defraud either me or my brother, even if he wants to; but I am not going to be content with hints or suggestions, as if I were living in a penny novelette.'
He rode slowly home through the heat that rose like a palpable gas from the scorched ground, until the little estancia house hove in sight again. He found that Toffy and Ross were still enjoying their afternoon siesta. ”

“ Oh, thonder's the boat comin'!"
"How would you like," said Miss Purvis desperately, still rummaging in her desk, "how would you like to walk up the loch and inquire if poor old Mrs. M'Phedron is keeping any better? I'm sure she would be very glad to see you."
"I dare say she wud. Can I get the lend o' a pair o' curlin'-tongs, please?"
"Certainly not! What on earth do you want to dress yourself for, Christina?"
"Oh, jist for fun.... But ye micht lend us a pair o' tongs, auntie. I'll no spile them, an' naebody'll ever ken they've been used." ”

“ Christina smiled doubtfully.
"I'll tell you what we'll do," cried Miss Purvis, with a sudden inspiration. "If you can repeat the poem correctly to me by Thursday night, I'll take you to the moonlight cruise on Friday—provided that the weather is very fine. Now, what do you say to that?"
The girl jumped up. "I'm on!" she shouted, and fell upon her aunt's neck.
She spent the rest of the evening in studying "Lord Ullin's Daughter," and went to bed in a fever of anticipation.
About 3 a.m. Miss Purvis was roused from her slumbers.
"Auntie! Auntie!"
"What is it? Don't you feel well?" ”

“ Christina regarded the top of her aunt's head with profound suspicion for nearly a minute. Then she said—
"It's ower warm for walkin'. I'll jist gang an' sit on the pier till the boat comes in."
Miss Purvis suppressed a groan. "Don't you think it would be much nicer up the loch?" she said feebly.
"Na," Christina returned firmly, adding, "I think I'll pit on ma guid things."
A frantic rustling of papers was the only response.
"I'm sayin', auntie, I think I'll put on ma guid things."
"Don't be absurd, child!" said the spinster irritably. "Why should you put on your good clothes to-day?" ”

“ We always thank God for men like Purvis: we never thank them. They are without honor in their own time, but how they brighten the pages of memory! How they stimulated the cheerfulness of the old countryside and broke up its natural reticence!
Mr. Franklin Purvis was our hired man—an undersized bachelor. He had a Roman nose, a face so slim that it would command interest and attention in any company, and a serious look enhanced by a bristling mustache and a retreating chin. At first and on account of his size I had no very high opinion of Mr. Purvis. ”

“ They're no' in the noo. An' cheeny dolls is oot, tae. An' ye've forgot to pit doon peevers, [1] an'——"
"I haven't sold a peever for years," Miss Purvis interrupted.
"Ye canna expect to sell onything if ye dinna keep it. Get a dizzen o' peevers, an' I'll shin [2] get the lassies to buy them. I'm a dab at the peever, and I'll set the fashion. But I wudna get ony mair cheeny dolls nor——"
Miss Purvis snatched away the list, and cried irritably, "If you can't promise to do exactly as you are told, Christina, I shan't allow you behind the counter again. ”

“ Once more that duel of the eyes—and to John Purdie, who prided himself on being a judge of expressions, it was evident that the younger man was more than the equal of the older. It was Levendale who gave way—and when he took his eyes off Yada, it was to turn to Stephen Purvis. ”

“ That’s as it should be. I congratulate you. Likewise the young lady, for having won so outspoken a young gentleman; and one that’s well spoken of, from all I hear.”
Whether the fellow was intentionally impertinent I could not tell. It was uncommonly awkward for both of us. Miss Purvis went scarlet. I felt like knocking him down.
“Now, then, out you go!”
“Softly! softly! You listen to me before the band begins to play. I don’t allow no one to lay hands on me without laying of ’em back again.”
The fellow extended, to ward me off, a pair of enormously long arms. ”

“ And then, as the full implication of the proposed adventure grew upon her, she clasped her hands convulsively. “You cannot mean it!” she cried. “You cannot mean it! You are teasing me, Gladys. You are only saying it to tease me.”
“Why, you’re not such a coward as all that!” her cousin replied. “Think what it must be for Nance Purvis, who always lives down there! I shouldn’t like to be more cowardly than a poor crazy labouring girl. ”

“ Miss Purvis held her peace.
"Come on, auntie, say ye'll gang. It wud be an awfu' disgrace to you if I was catched bein' a stowaway, an——"
"Do not say catched, Christina."
"Nabbit, then. It wud be an awfu' disgrace, wud it no'? But I ken ye'll come. I'll promise to behave masel', auntie, an' ye'll enjey it fine—if ye're carefu' what ye eat afore ye start. It'll remind ye o' yer young days, eh?"
"I never heard of such an idea!" said Miss Purvis. "What makes you want to go?"
"Oh, weel, near everybody in Kilmabeg has been to moonlight cruises except us. An' Friday's the last this year." ”

“ Peter greeted Mr. Purvis's visits to Las Lomas with cordiality, induced by the feeling that even a chance word dropped by a man who knew the country and its people as intimately as Purvis did might throw some light on his quest. Added to this, the fair, mild-mannered man was an intelligent talker on the rare occasions when he spoke at any length ”

“ Don’t hurt her!” exclaimed Gladys. “She’ll put the evil eye on me. She did it to Nance Purvis and she’s been mad ever since.”
“It’s a lie!” whimpered the old woman, struggling feebly as Clavering pulled her towards the door.
“It’s your own dad and Nance’s dad with their ugly ways what have driven that poor lass moon-crazy. Mark Purvis do whip her with withy sticks—all the country knows it. Darn ’ee, for a black devil’s spawn, and no blessed minister, pulling and harrying an old woman!” ”

“ In this case the barmaid might well stare; for deeply convinced as our young man might be that he was the son of Lord Frederick Purvis, there was really no end to the oddity of his being preferred—and by a princess—to Captain Sholto. ”

“ He and his son rode over very early to Las Lomas to-day; and, the boy having been sent into the house to rest and get cool, Purvis crossed the bare little garden, passed the stout rough paling of the corral, and went towards the group of paraiso trees where Peter was sitting. He wore his bowler hat and had the appearance of being a very delicate, overworked City clerk.
'Ross is not at home, I suppose?' he said, sitting down beside Peter in the shade and removing his hat. The hat always left a painful-looking red line on Mr. Purvis's forehead, and it was removed whenever he sat down. ”

“ Then she made breakfast, after which she assisted her aunt to dress.
"Well, dear," Miss Purvis gratefully remarked, "if you end the day as well as you have begun it, I'm sure I'll be very proud of you."
"Oh, dinna fash yersel', auntie. I'll no' gi'e onything awa' for naethin'."
"But I trust you will be circumspect and discreet. Some customers, you know, are very easily offended; all customers must be treated respectfully. You promise to be careful?"
Christina nodded her head vigorously.
"And try to speak nicely," continued Miss Purvis. "Now here is Mr. ”

“ I was conscious of a foolish desire to call the crowd to keep us company. Emily Purvis was hardly the kind of girl I should myself have chosen to be my sole companion in a tight place; and I had a kind of feeling that before very long it might turn out that I was in a tight place now.
It had all come on me so suddenly. More things had happened in a few hours than in all my life before. Yesterday I had thought myself a fixture at Cardew & Slaughter’s; with marriage with Tom in the far-off distance; when the skies had fallen ”

“ Ross assented, and Toffy remarked that he believed with training he himself might make a very fair nursery-maid.
'Things are a little bit disturbed at my place,' said Purvis. 'I have so many mixed nationalities down there, and they don't get on well together, and are difficult to manage. I would rather not leave Dick, if you could have him—Dick will be a good boy—no?' he said, speaking in the questioning negative so common in Argentine, and addressing the pale-faced little boy in a manner far too babyish for his years. ”

“ The police officials, as with one consent, glanced at Mr. Killick, and by their looks seemed to invite his assistance. The old gentleman nodded and turned to the caller.
"Now, Mr. Purvis," he said, "just let me ask you a few questions. Did your brother tell you that this diamond was his own, sole property?"
"He did, sir!" answered the farmer. "He said it was all his own."
"Did he tell you where it was—what he had done with it?"
"Yes! He said that for some years he'd traded in small parcels of such things with two men here in London—Multenius and Levendale—he knew both of them. ”

“ Evidently, you believe that I do know something. But—you are not the owner of the diamond! Which of these gentlemen is?"
Levendale made a half impatient gesture towards Stephen Purvis, who nodded at Yada but remained silent.
"He is!" said Levendale, testily. "But you—can do your talking to me. Again—how much do you know in this matter?"
"Enough to make it worth your while to negotiate with me," answered Yada. "Is that as plain as your question!"
"It's what I expected," said Levendale. "You want to sell your knowledge."
"Well?" assented Yada, "I am very sure you are willing to purchase." ”

“ That diamond is at the bottom of everything! Daniel Multenius was throttled for that diamond—Parslett's death arose out of that diamond—everything's arisen from that diamond! And, now that you police folks know all this—you know what to do. You want the man, or men, who were in Daniel Multenius's shop about five o'clock on that particular day, and who carried off that diamond. Mr. Purvis!—are you staying in town? ”

“ Within ten minutes of leaving them, Purdie was back with Lauriston and Melky Rubinstein, and motioning them away from Sussex Square.
"That's more extraordinary than the rest!" he said. as they all moved off. "Levendale's there, in his own house, right enough! And he's shaved off his beard and mustache, and he's wearing tramp's clothes and he and Stephen Purvis have been looking night and day, for that confounded diamond, and for eighty thousand pounds! And—what's more, Levendale does not know who killed Daniel Multenius or that he was murdered! ”

“ Levendale," said the Inspector, a little sourly. "You'd have saved a lot of trouble—to yourselves as well as to us. But that's neither here nor there—I suppose you've something to tell us, Sir?"
"Before I tell you anything," replied Levendale, "I want to know something." He pointed to the morning papers which he had brought in. "These people," he said, "seem to have got hold of a lot of information—all got from you, of course. Now, we know what we're after—let's put it in a nutshell. A diamond—an orange-yellow diamond—worth eighty thousand pounds, the property of Mr. Stephen Purvis there. ”

“ My house is full of things that make a noise—a canary, a paroquet, a mocking-bird, a harp, a piano, and a guitar. And—"
Mrs. Pragoff did not add that she had invited a little party to meet them. She was afraid of frightening the timid souls.
"Would you like to come, Miss Prudy? Tell me honestly, now."
There was no need to ask Fly. She was dancing for joy—the absurd little image.
"O, yes'm; I'd be delighted," replied Mother Hubbard, a smile lighting up her face even to the floury tip of her nose. "And I think Horace and Dotty would, too. Shall I go and ask?" ”