Then he began to study particulars: grammar and spelling were correct; the penmanship was in the Italian style, minute, yet flowing, the letters dowered with generous loops and tails.

But surely he had seen this writing before?
By Jupiter, yes! This was the hand of the letter Purdy had shown him on the road to Melbourne.

The little puss! So she not only wrote her own letters, but those of her friends as well.

In that case she was certainly not stupid for she was much the youngest of the three.
To-day was Thursday.

Summoning Long Jim from his seat behind the counter, Mahony dispatched him to Rotten Gully, with an injunction not to show himself till he had found a digger of the name of Turnham.