horse's¡¡neck¡¡in¡¡a¡¡moment£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡fairly¡¡broke¡¡down¡¡and¡¡cried¡£¡¡
The¡¡cab¡master¡¡had¡¡never¡¡been¡¡so¡¡fond¡¡of¡¡a¡¡horse¡¡himself¡¡as¡¡to¡¡hug
him¡¡like¡¡that£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡in¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡how¡¡it¡¡was¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡he¡¡must
have¡¡been¡¡a¡¡good¡hearted¡¡fellow£»¡¡for¡¡I¡¡never¡¡heard¡¡of¡¡such¡¡an¡¡idea
coming¡¡into¡¡the¡¡head¡¡of¡¡any¡¡other¡¡man¡¡with¡¡a¡¡horse¡¡to¡¡sell£º¡¡
instead¡¡of¡¡putting¡¡something¡¡on¡¡to¡¡the¡¡price¡¡because¡¡he¡¡was¡¡now
pretty¡¡sure¡¡of¡¡selling¡¡him£»¡¡he¡¡actually¡¡took¡¡a¡¡pound¡¡off¡¡what¡¡he
had¡¡meant¡¡to¡¡ask¡¡for¡¡him£»¡¡saying¡¡to¡¡himself¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡shame¡¡to¡¡part
old¡¡friends¡£
Diamond's¡¡father£»¡¡as¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡he¡¡came¡¡to¡¡himself£»¡¡turned¡¡and¡¡asked
how¡¡much¡¡he¡¡wanted¡¡for¡¡the¡¡horse¡£
¡¨I¡¡see¡¡you're¡¡old¡¡friends£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡owner¡£
¡¨It's¡¡my¡¡own¡¡old¡¡Diamond¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡liked¡¡him¡¡far¡¡the¡¡best¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pair£»
though¡¡the¡¡other¡¡was¡¡good¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡ain't¡¡got¡¡him¡¡too£»¡¡have¡¡you£¿¡¨
¡¨No£»¡¡nothing¡¡in¡¡the¡¡stable¡¡to¡¡match¡¡him¡¡there¡£¡¨
¡¨I¡¡believe¡¡you£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡coachman¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨But¡¡you'll¡¡be¡¡wanting¡¡a¡¡long
price¡¡for¡¡him£»¡¡I¡¡know¡£¡¨
¡¨No£»¡¡not¡¡so¡¡much¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡bought¡¡him¡¡cheap£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡I¡¡say£»¡¡he¡¡ain't
for¡¡my¡¡work¡£¡¨
The¡¡end¡¡of¡¡it¡¡was¡¡that¡¡Diamond's¡¡father¡¡bought¡¡old¡¡Diamond¡¡again£»
along¡¡with¡¡a¡¡four¡wheeled¡¡cab¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡as¡¡there¡¡were¡¡some¡¡rooms¡¡to¡¡be
had¡¡over¡¡the¡¡stable£»¡¡he¡¡took¡¡them£»¡¡wrote¡¡to¡¡his¡¡wife¡¡to¡¡come¡¡home£»
and¡¡set¡¡up¡¡as¡¡a¡¡cabman¡£
CHAPTER¡¡XV
THE¡¡MEWS
IT¡¡WAS¡¡late¡¡in¡¡the¡¡afternoon¡¡when¡¡Diamond¡¡and¡¡his¡¡mother¡¡and¡¡the¡¡baby
reached¡¡London¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡was¡¡so¡¡full¡¡of¡¡Diamond¡¡that¡¡I¡¡forgot¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡you
a¡¡baby¡¡had¡¡arrived¡¡in¡¡the¡¡meantime¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡father¡¡was¡¡waiting¡¡for¡¡them
with¡¡his¡¡own¡¡cab£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡had¡¡not¡¡told¡¡Diamond¡¡who¡¡the¡¡horse¡¡was£»
for¡¡his¡¡father¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡enjoy¡¡the¡¡pleasure¡¡of¡¡his¡¡surprise¡¡when¡¡he
found¡¡it¡¡out¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡got¡¡in¡¡with¡¡his¡¡mother¡¡without¡¡looking¡¡at¡¡the¡¡horse£»
and¡¡his¡¡father¡¡having¡¡put¡¡up¡¡Diamond's¡¡carpet¡bag¡¡and¡¡his¡¡mother's
little¡¡trunk£»¡¡got¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡box¡¡himself¡¡and¡¡drove¡¡off£»¡¡and¡¡Diamond
was¡¡quite¡¡proud¡¡of¡¡riding¡¡home¡¡in¡¡his¡¡father's¡¡own¡¡carriage¡£¡¡
But¡¡when¡¡he¡¡got¡¡to¡¡the¡¡mews£»¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡help¡¡being¡¡a¡¡little¡¡dismayed
at¡¡first£»¡¡and¡¡if¡¡he¡¡had¡¡never¡¡been¡¡to¡¡the¡¡back¡¡of¡¡the¡¡north¡¡wind£»
I¡¡am¡¡afraid¡¡he¡¡would¡¡have¡¡cried¡¡a¡¡little¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡that£»
he¡¡said¡¡to¡¡himself¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡fine¡¡thing¡¡all¡¡the¡¡old¡¡furniture¡¡was¡¡there¡£¡¡
And¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡helping¡¡his¡¡mother¡¡to¡¡be¡¡miserable¡¡at¡¡the¡¡change£»
he¡¡began¡¡to¡¡find¡¡out¡¡all¡¡the¡¡advantages¡¡of¡¡the¡¡place£»¡¡for¡¡every
place¡¡has¡¡some¡¡advantages£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡are¡¡always¡¡better¡¡worth¡¡knowing
than¡¡the¡¡disadvantages¡£¡¡¡¡Certainly¡¡the¡¡weather¡¡was¡¡depressing£»
for¡¡a¡¡thick£»¡¡dull£»¡¡persistent¡¡rain¡¡was¡¡falling¡¡by¡¡the¡¡time¡¡they
reached¡¡home¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡happily¡¡the¡¡weather¡¡is¡¡very¡¡changeable£»
and¡¡besides£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡good¡¡fire¡¡burning¡¡in¡¡the¡¡room£»¡¡which¡¡their
neighbour¡¡with¡¡the¡¡drunken¡¡husband¡¡had¡¡attended¡¡to¡¡for¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡the
tea¡things¡¡were¡¡put¡¡out£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡kettle¡¡was¡¡boiling¡¡on¡¡the¡¡fire¡£¡¡
And¡¡with¡¡a¡¡good¡¡fire£»¡¡and¡¡tea¡¡and¡¡bread¡¡and¡¡butter£»¡¡things¡¡cannot
be¡¡said¡¡to¡¡be¡¡miserable¡£
Diamond's¡¡father¡¡and¡¡mother¡¡were£»¡¡notwithstanding£»¡¡rather¡¡miserable£»
and¡¡Diamond¡¡began¡¡to¡¡feel¡¡a¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡darkness¡¡beginning¡¡to¡¡spread
over¡¡his¡¡own¡¡mind¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡the¡¡same¡¡moment¡¡he¡¡said¡¡to¡¡himself£»
¡¨This¡¡will¡¡never¡¡do¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡can't¡¡give¡¡in¡¡to¡¡this¡£¡¡¡¡I've¡¡been¡¡to¡¡the¡¡back
of¡¡the¡¡north¡¡wind¡£¡¡¡¡Things¡¡go¡¡right¡¡there£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡I¡¡must¡¡try¡¡to¡¡get
things¡¡to¡¡go¡¡right¡¡here¡£¡¡¡¡I've¡¡got¡¡to¡¡fight¡¡the¡¡miserable¡¡things¡£¡¡
They¡¡shan't¡¡make¡¡me¡¡miserable¡¡if¡¡I¡¡can¡¡help¡¡it¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡I¡¡do¡¡not¡¡mean
that¡¡he¡¡thought¡¡these¡¡very¡¡words¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡are¡¡perhaps¡¡too¡¡grown¡up
for¡¡him¡¡to¡¡have¡¡thought£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡represent¡¡the¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡thing¡¡that
was¡¡in¡¡his¡¡heart¡¡and¡¡his¡¡head¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡when¡¡heart¡¡and¡¡head¡¡go¡¡together£»
nothing¡¡can¡¡stand¡¡before¡¡them¡£
¡¨What¡¡nice¡¡bread¡¡and¡¡butter¡¡this¡¡is£¡¡¨¡¡said¡¡Diamond¡£
¡¨I'm¡¡glad¡¡you¡¡like¡¡it£»¡¡my¡¡dear¡¨¡¡said¡¡his¡¡father¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡bought
the¡¡butter¡¡myself¡¡at¡¡the¡¡little¡¡shop¡¡round¡¡the¡¡corner¡£¡¨
¡¨It's¡¡very¡¡nice£»¡¡thank¡¡you£»¡¡father¡£¡¡¡¡Oh£»¡¡there's¡¡baby¡¡waking£¡¡¡
I'll¡¡take¡¡him¡£¡¨
¡¨Sit¡¡still£»¡¡Diamond£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡his¡¡mother¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Go¡¡on¡¡with¡¡your¡¡bread
and¡¡butter¡£¡¡¡¡You're¡¡not¡¡strong¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡lift¡¡him¡¡yet¡£¡¨
So¡¡she¡¡took¡¡the¡¡baby¡¡herself£»¡¡and¡¡set¡¡him¡¡on¡¡her¡¡knee¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡Diamond
began¡¡to¡¡amuse¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡went¡¡on¡¡till¡¡the¡¡little¡¡fellow¡¡was¡¡shrieking
with¡¡laughter¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡the¡¡baby's¡¡world¡¡was¡¡his¡¡mother's¡¡arms£»
and¡¡the¡¡drizzling¡¡rain£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡dreary¡¡mews£»¡¡and¡¡even¡¡his¡¡father's
troubled¡¡face¡¡could¡¡not¡¡touch¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡What¡¡cared¡¡baby¡¡for¡¡the¡¡loss
of¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡situations£¿¡¡¡¡Yet¡¡neither¡¡father¡¡nor¡¡mother¡¡thought
him¡¡hard¡hearted¡¡because¡¡he¡¡crowed¡¡and¡¡laughed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡middle
of¡¡their¡¡troubles¡£¡¡¡¡On¡¡the¡¡contrary£»¡¡his¡¡crowing¡¡and¡¡laughing
were¡¡infectious¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡little¡¡heart¡¡was¡¡so¡¡full¡¡of¡¡merriment¡¡that¡¡it
could¡¡not¡¡hold¡¡it¡¡all£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡ran¡¡over¡¡into¡¡theirs¡£¡¡¡¡Father¡¡and
mother¡¡began¡¡to¡¡laugh¡¡too£»¡¡and¡¡Diamond¡¡laughed¡¡till¡¡he¡¡had¡¡a¡¡fit
of¡¡coughing¡¡which¡¡frightened¡¡his¡¡mother£»¡¡and¡¡made¡¡them¡¡all¡¡stop¡£¡¡
His¡¡father¡¡took¡¡the¡¡baby£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡mother¡¡put¡¡him¡¡to¡¡bed¡£
But¡¡it¡¡was¡¡indeed¡¡a¡¡change¡¡to¡¡them¡¡all£»¡¡not¡¡only¡¡from¡¡Sandwich£»
but¡¡from¡¡their¡¡old¡¡place£»¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡the¡¡great¡¡river¡¡where¡¡the¡¡huge
barges¡¡with¡¡their¡¡mighty¡¡brown¡¡and¡¡yellow¡¡sails¡¡went¡¡tacking
from¡¡side¡¡to¡¡side¡¡like¡¡little¡¡pleasure¡skiffs£»¡¡and¡¡where¡¡the¡¡long
thin¡¡boats¡¡shot¡¡past¡¡with¡¡eight¡¡and¡¡sometimes¡¡twelve¡¡rowers£»
their¡¡windows¡¡now¡¡looked¡¡out¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡dirty¡¡paved¡¡yard¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡there
was¡¡no¡¡garden¡¡more¡¡for¡¡Diamond¡¡to¡¡run¡¡into¡¡when¡¡he¡¡pleased£»¡¡with¡¡gay
flowers¡¡about¡¡his¡¡feet£»¡¡and¡¡solemn¡¡sun¡filled¡¡trees¡¡over¡¡his¡¡head¡£¡¡
Neither¡¡was¡¡there¡¡a¡¡wooden¡¡wall¡¡at¡¡the¡¡back¡¡of¡¡his¡¡bed¡¡with¡¡a¡¡hole
in¡¡it¡¡for¡¡North¡¡Wind¡¡to¡¡come¡¡in¡¡at¡¡when¡¡she¡¡liked¡£¡¡¡¡Indeed£»¡¡there¡¡was
such¡¡a¡¡high¡¡wall£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡were¡¡so¡¡many¡¡houses¡¡about¡¡the¡¡mews£»
that¡¡North¡¡Wind¡¡seldom¡¡got¡¡into¡¡the¡¡place¡¡at¡¡all£»¡¡except¡¡when¡¡something
must¡¡be¡¡done£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡had¡¡a¡¡grand¡¡cleaning¡¡out¡¡like¡¡other¡¡housewives£»
while¡¡the¡¡partition¡¡at¡¡the¡¡head¡¡of¡¡Diamond's¡¡new¡¡bed¡¡only¡¡divided
it¡¡from¡¡the¡¡room¡¡occupied¡¡by¡¡a¡¡cabman¡¡who¡¡drank¡¡too¡¡much¡¡beer£»
and¡¡came¡¡home¡¡chiefly¡¡to¡¡quarrel¡¡with¡¡his¡¡wife¡¡and¡¡pinch¡¡his¡¡children¡£¡¡
It¡¡was¡¡dreadful¡¡to¡¡Diamond¡¡to¡¡hear¡¡the¡¡scolding¡¡and¡¡the¡¡crying¡£¡¡
But¡¡it¡¡could¡¡not¡¡make¡¡him¡¡miserable£»¡¡because¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡at¡¡the¡¡back¡¡of
the¡¡north¡¡wind¡£
If¡¡my¡¡reader¡¡find¡¡it¡¡hard¡¡to¡¡believe¡¡that¡¡Diamond¡¡should¡¡be¡¡so¡¡good£»
he¡¡must¡¡remember¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡to¡¡the¡¡back¡¡of¡¡the¡¡north¡¡wind¡£¡¡
If¡¡he¡¡never¡¡knew¡¡a¡¡boy¡¡so¡¡good£»¡¡did¡¡he¡¡ever¡¡know¡¡a¡¡boy¡¡that¡¡had¡¡been
to¡¡the¡¡back¡¡of¡¡the¡¡north¡¡wind£¿¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡not¡¡in¡¡the¡¡least¡¡strange
of¡¡Diamond¡¡to¡¡behave¡¡as¡¡he¡¡did£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡contrary£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡thoroughly
sensible¡¡of¡¡him¡£
We¡¡shall¡¡see¡¡how¡¡he¡¡got¡¡on¡£
CHAPTER¡¡XVI
DIAMOND¡¡MAKES¡¡A¡¡BEGINNING
THE¡¡wind¡¡blew¡¡loud£»¡¡but¡¡Diamond¡¡slept¡¡a¡¡deep¡¡sleep£»¡¡and¡¡never¡¡heard¡¡it¡£¡¡
My¡¡own¡¡impression¡¡is¡¡that¡¡every¡¡time¡¡when¡¡Diamond¡¡slept¡¡well¡¡and
remembered¡¡nothing¡¡about¡¡it¡¡in¡¡the¡¡morning£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡all¡¡that¡¡night
at¡¡the¡¡back¡¡of¡¡the¡¡north¡¡wind¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡am¡¡almost¡¡sure¡¡that¡¡was¡¡how¡¡he
woke¡¡so¡¡refreshed£»¡¡and¡¡felt¡¡so¡¡quiet¡¡and¡¡hopeful¡¡all¡¡the¡¡day¡£¡¡
Indeed¡¡he¡¡said¡¡this¡¡much£»¡¡though¡¡not¡¡to¡¡methat¡¡always¡¡when¡¡he
woke¡¡from¡¡such¡¡a¡¡sleep¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡something¡¡in¡¡his¡¡mind£»¡¡he¡¡could
not¡¡tell¡¡whatcould¡¡not¡¡tell¡¡whether¡¡it¡¡was¡¡the¡¡last¡¡far¡off¡¡sounds
of¡¡the¡¡river¡¡dying¡¡away¡¡in¡¡the¡¡distance£»¡¡or¡¡some¡¡of¡¡the¡¡words
of¡¡the¡¡endless¡¡song¡¡his¡¡mother¡¡had¡¡read¡¡to¡¡him¡¡on¡¡the¡¡sea¡shore¡£
Sometimes¡¡he¡¡thought¡¡it¡¡must¡¡have¡¡been¡¡the¡¡twittering¡¡of¡¡the¡¡swallows
over¡¡the¡¡shallows£»¡¡you£»¡¡know£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡may¡¡have¡¡been¡¡the¡¡chirping
of¡¡the¡¡dingy¡¡sparrows¡¡picking¡¡up¡¡their¡¡breakfast¡¡in¡¡the¡¡yard
how¡¡can¡¡I¡¡tell£¿¡¡¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡know¡¡what¡¡I¡¡know£»¡¡I¡¡only¡¡know¡¡what¡¡I¡¡think£»
and¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡the¡¡truth£»¡¡I¡¡am¡¡more¡¡for¡¡the¡¡swallows¡¡than¡¡the¡¡sparrows¡£¡¡
When¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡he¡¡was¡¡coming¡¡awake£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡sometimes¡¡try¡¡hard
to¡¡keep¡¡hold¡¡of¡¡the¡¡words¡¡of¡¡what¡¡seemed¡¡a¡¡new¡¡song£»¡¡one¡¡he¡¡had
not¡¡heard¡¡beforea¡¡song¡¡in¡¡which¡¡the¡¡words¡¡and¡¡the¡¡music¡¡somehow
appeared¡¡to¡¡be¡¡all¡¡one£»¡¡but¡¡even¡¡when¡¡he¡¡thought¡¡he¡¡had¡¡got¡¡them
well¡¡fixed¡¡in¡¡his¡¡mind£»¡¡ever¡¡as¡¡he¡¡came¡¡awakeras¡¡he¡¡would¡¡say
one¡¡line¡¡faded¡¡away¡¡out¡¡of¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡another£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡another£»
till¡¡at¡¡last¡¡there¡¡was¡¡nothing¡¡left¡¡but¡¡some¡¡lovely¡¡picture¡¡of¡¡water
or¡¡grass¡¡or¡¡daisies£»¡¡or¡¡something¡¡else¡¡very¡¡common£»¡¡but¡¡with¡¡all¡¡the
commonness¡¡polished¡¡off¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡lovely¡¡soul¡¡of¡¡it£»¡¡which¡¡people
so¡¡seldom¡¡see£»¡¡and£»¡¡alas£¡¡¡yet¡¡seldomer¡¡believe¡¡in£»¡¡shining¡¡out¡£¡¡
But¡¡after¡¡that¡¡he¡¡would¡¡sing¡¡the¡¡oddest£»¡¡loveliest¡¡little¡¡songs
to¡¡the¡¡babyof¡¡his¡¡own¡¡making£»¡¡his¡¡mother¡¡said£»¡¡but¡¡Diamond¡¡said¡¡he
did¡¡not¡¡make¡¡them£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡made¡¡somewhere¡¡inside¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡knew
nothing¡¡about¡¡them¡¡till¡¡they¡¡were¡¡coming¡¡out¡£
When¡¡he¡¡woke¡¡that¡¡first¡¡morning¡¡he¡¡got¡¡up¡¡at¡¡once£»¡¡saying¡¡to¡¡himself£»
¡¨I've¡¡been¡¡ill¡¡long¡¡enough£»¡¡and¡¡have¡¡given¡¡a¡¡great¡¡deal¡¡of¡¡trouble£»
I¡¡must¡¡try¡¡and¡¡be¡¡of¡¡use¡¡now£»¡¡and¡¡help¡¡my¡¡mother¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡When¡¡he¡¡went¡¡into
her¡¡room¡¡he¡¡found¡¡her¡¡lighting¡¡the¡¡fire£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡father¡¡just¡¡getting
out¡¡of¡¡bed¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡had¡¡only¡¡the¡¡one¡¡room£»¡¡besides¡¡the¡¡little¡¡one£»
not¡¡much¡¡more¡¡than¡¡a¡¡closet£»¡¡in¡¡which¡¡Diamond¡¡slept¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡began¡¡at
once¡¡to¡¡set¡¡things¡¡to¡¡rights£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡baby¡¡waking¡¡up£»¡¡he¡¡took¡¡him£»
and¡¡nursed¡¡him¡¡till¡¡his¡¡mother¡¡had¡¡got¡¡the¡¡
СÌáʾ£º°´ »Ø³µ [Enter] ¼ü ·µ»ØÊéÄ¿£¬°´ ¡û ¼ü ·µ»ØÉÏÒ»Ò³£¬ °´ ¡ú ¼ü ½øÈëÏÂÒ»Ò³¡£
ÔÞÒ»ÏÂ
Ìí¼ÓÊéÇ©¼ÓÈëÊé¼Ü