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Updated: June 9, 2025
"Master Davie was a solemn one," Purday said, and they were great friends; but Hal and Johnnie were fairly turned out, as their idle hands were continually finding fresh mischief to do in their sauntering desultory mood. "I think," said Hal, "since Purday is so savage, we'll go and look out at the gate, and then we shall see if the telegraph comes."
Sam and Susan, at least, believed that she had only spoken to Purday because she thought it right; but even for them to forgive interference with their bonfire privileges was a great stretch.
"Master Hal!" exclaimed Purday, "don't throw them little apples about." "They are red-hot shot, Purday!" "I'll red-hot shot you if you break my cucumber frames, young gentleman! Come, get out with you." Probably anxiety made Purday cross as well as everyone else, or else he distrusted Henry's discretion without Sam, for he hunted the little boys away wherever they went.
Perhaps Purday was as much astonished as the rest; but, after all, much as the children tormented his bonfires, overset his haycocks, and disturbed his wood-pile, he did not like anyone to scold them but himself, much less the new London Lady; so he made up an odd sort of grin, and said, "No, no, Ma'am, it ain't that they do so much harm; let 'em bide;" and he proceeded to shake on the rest of his barrowful, tumbling the weeds down over David's cherished oven in utter disregard; but the children cried with one voice, "Hurrah! hurrah!
Then Sam got up his breath again and called alone, "Purday!" and Hal and Susan by pats and pinches strangled the like outcry from Annie and John, so as to leave the field clear for the great question, "Purday, what does a pig cost?" "More than your voices up there, sir," growled Purday, making some laugh; but Henry cried impatiently,
Susan's ambition was to make a set of real twists, just like Cook's; and she pulled out and twisted and plaited, though often robbed of her dough by the two boys, whose united efforts were endeavouring to produce a likeness of Purday, with his hat on his head, plums for eyes, a pipe in his mouth, and driving a cow; but unluckily his neck always got pinched off, and his arms would not stay on!
Henry looked as if he could bite. "Well, I shall finish Purday," said Sam, turning away with a sigh; "and they shall have him for tea." "Tea will be no fun!" repeated Annie. "Oh dear! what does Uncle John come here for?" "May not he come to be with his brother?" suggested Christabel. "Oh! but they are grown up," said Annie.
"I'll catch one," broke from John and Annie at once; "such lots as there are in the yard!" "You would catch it, I believe," said Sam disdainfully; while Susan explained, "No; those are Papa's pigs. Purday would not let you give them away." "Of course," said Henry, "that was only those little geese. I meant to make a subscription among ourselves, and give her the pig; and won't she be surprised!"
A body can't hear a word," was all the answer they got; whereupon they all started together again, and Purday went on with his mixture as if they had been so many hens cackling.
"What's the matter, David?" He made no answer, and Miss Fosbrook let him alone; but Annie presently bounced in, crying out, "Davie, Davie! where were you? we have been hunting for you everywhere! Where did you go?" "I went with Purday." "What, to milk the cows?" "Yes." "And then?" "I went with him to Farmer Long's, to see his little Chinese pigs." "And you have bought one! O Davie!"
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