¡¨Good¡¡evening£»¡¡ma'am£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡he¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Is¡¡the¡¡little¡¡master¡¡in£¿¡¨
¡¨Yes£»¡¡to¡¡be¡¡sure¡¡he¡¡isat¡¡your¡¡service£»¡¡I'm¡¡sure£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Stonecrop£»¡¨
said¡¡his¡¡mother¡£
¡¨No£»¡¡no£»¡¡ma'am£»¡¡it's¡¡I'm¡¡at¡¡his¡¡service¡£¡¡¡¡I'm¡¡just¡¡a¡going¡¡out
with¡¡my¡¡own¡¡cab£»¡¡and¡¡if¡¡he¡¡likes¡¡to¡¡come¡¡with¡¡me£»¡¡he¡¡shall¡¡drive
my¡¡old¡¡horse¡¡till¡¡he's¡¡tired¡£¡¨
¡¨It's¡¡getting¡¡rather¡¡late¡¡for¡¡him£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡his¡¡mother¡¡thoughtfully¡£¡¡
¡¨You¡¡see¡¡he's¡¡been¡¡an¡¡invalid¡£¡¨
Diamond¡¡thought£»¡¡what¡¡a¡¡funny¡¡thing£¡¡¡¡¡How¡¡could¡¡he¡¡have¡¡been¡¡an¡¡invalid
when¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡even¡¡know¡¡what¡¡the¡¡word¡¡meant£¿¡¡¡¡But£»¡¡of¡¡course£»
his¡¡mother¡¡was¡¡right¡£
¡¨Oh£»¡¡well£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Stonecrop£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡can¡¡just¡¡let¡¡him¡¡drive¡¡through
Bloomsbury¡¡Square£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡he¡¡shall¡¡run¡¡home¡¡again¡£¡¨
¡¨Very¡¡good£»¡¡sir¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡I'm¡¡much¡¡obliged¡¡to¡¡you£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡his¡¡mother¡£¡¡
And¡¡Diamond£»¡¡dancing¡¡with¡¡delight£»¡¡got¡¡his¡¡cap£»¡¡put¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡in
Mr¡£¡¡Stonecrop's£»¡¡and¡¡went¡¡with¡¡him¡¡to¡¡the¡¡yard¡¡where¡¡the¡¡cab¡¡was¡¡waiting¡£¡¡
He¡¡did¡¡not¡¡think¡¡the¡¡horse¡¡looked¡¡nearly¡¡so¡¡nice¡¡as¡¡Diamond£»
nor¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Stonecrop¡¡nearly¡¡so¡¡grand¡¡as¡¡his¡¡father£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡was¡¡none£»
the¡¡less¡¡pleased¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡got¡¡up¡¡on¡¡the¡¡box£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡new¡¡friend¡¡got¡¡up
beside¡¡him¡£
¡¨What's¡¡the¡¡horse's¡¡name£¿¡¨¡¡whispered¡¡Diamond£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡took¡¡the¡¡reins
from¡¡the¡¡man¡£
¡¨It's¡¡not¡¡a¡¡nice¡¡name£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Stonecrop¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡needn't¡¡call¡¡him
by¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡didn't¡¡give¡¡it¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡He'll¡¡go¡¡well¡¡enough¡¡without¡¡it¡£¡¡
Give¡¡the¡¡boy¡¡a¡¡whip£»¡¡Jack¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡never¡¡carries¡¡one¡¡when¡¡I¡¡drive¡¡old¡¨
He¡¡didn't¡¡finish¡¡the¡¡sentence¡£¡¡¡¡Jack¡¡handed¡¡Diamond¡¡a¡¡whip£»
with¡¡which£»¡¡by¡¡holding¡¡it¡¡half¡¡down¡¡the¡¡stick£»¡¡he¡¡managed¡¡just
to¡¡flack¡¡the¡¡haunches¡¡of¡¡the¡¡horse£»¡¡and¡¡away¡¡he¡¡went¡£
¡¨Mind¡¡the¡¡gate£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Stonecrop£»¡¡and¡¡Diamond¡¡did¡¡mind¡¡the¡¡gate£»
and¡¡guided¡¡the¡¡nameless¡¡horse¡¡through¡¡it¡¡in¡¡safety£»¡¡pulling¡¡him¡¡this
way¡¡and¡¡that¡¡according¡¡as¡¡was¡¡necessary¡£¡¡¡¡Diamond¡¡learned¡¡to¡¡drive
all¡¡the¡¡sooner¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡accustomed¡¡to¡¡do¡¡what¡¡he¡¡was¡¡told£»
and¡¡could¡¡obey¡¡the¡¡smallest¡¡hint¡¡in¡¡a¡¡moment¡£¡¡¡¡Nothing¡¡helps¡¡one¡¡to¡¡get
on¡¡like¡¡that¡£¡¡¡¡Some¡¡people¡¡don't¡¡know¡¡how¡¡to¡¡do¡¡what¡¡they¡¡are¡¡told£»
they¡¡have¡¡not¡¡been¡¡used¡¡to¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡neither¡¡understand¡¡quickly
nor¡¡are¡¡able¡¡to¡¡turn¡¡what¡¡they¡¡do¡¡understand¡¡into¡¡action¡¡quickly¡£¡¡
With¡¡an¡¡obedient¡¡mind¡¡one¡¡learns¡¡the¡¡rights¡¡of¡¡things¡¡fast¡¡enough£»
for¡¡it¡¡is¡¡the¡¡law¡¡of¡¡the¡¡universe£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡obey¡¡is¡¡to¡¡understand¡£
¡¨Look¡¡out£¡¡¨¡¡cried¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Stonecrop£»¡¡as¡¡they¡¡were¡¡turning¡¡the¡¡corner
into¡¡Bloomsbury¡¡Square¡£
It¡¡was¡¡getting¡¡dusky¡¡now¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡cab¡¡was¡¡approaching¡¡rather¡¡rapidly
from¡¡the¡¡opposite¡¡direction£»¡¡and¡¡Diamond¡¡pulling¡¡aside£»¡¡and¡¡the
other¡¡driver¡¡pulling¡¡up£»¡¡they¡¡only¡¡just¡¡escaped¡¡a¡¡collision¡£¡¡
Then¡¡they¡¡knew¡¡each¡¡other¡£
¡¨Why£»¡¡Diamond£»¡¡it's¡¡a¡¡bad¡¡beginning¡¡to¡¡run¡¡into¡¡your¡¡own¡¡father£»¡¨
cried¡¡the¡¡driver¡£
¡¨But£»¡¡father£»¡¡wouldn't¡¡it¡¡have¡¡been¡¡a¡¡bad¡¡ending¡¡to¡¡run¡¡into¡¡your
own¡¡son£¿¡¨¡¡said¡¡Diamond¡¡in¡¡return£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡two¡¡men¡¡laughed¡¡heartily¡£
¡¨This¡¡is¡¡very¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡you£»¡¡I'm¡¡sure£»¡¡Stonecrop£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡his¡¡father¡£
¡¨Not¡¡a¡¡bit¡£¡¡¡¡He's¡¡a¡¡brave¡¡fellow£»¡¡and'll¡¡be¡¡fit¡¡to¡¡drive¡¡on¡¡his¡¡own
hook¡¡in¡¡a¡¡week¡¡or¡¡two¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡I¡¡think¡¡you'd¡¡better¡¡let¡¡him¡¡drive¡¡you
home¡¡now£»¡¡for¡¡his¡¡mother¡¡don't¡¡like¡¡his¡¡having¡¡over¡¡much¡¡of¡¡the
night¡¡air£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡promised¡¡not¡¡to¡¡take¡¡him¡¡farther¡¡than¡¡the¡¡square¡£¡¨
¡¨Come¡¡along¡¡then£»¡¡Diamond£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡his¡¡father£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡brought¡¡his¡¡cab
up¡¡to¡¡the¡¡other£»¡¡and¡¡moved¡¡off¡¡the¡¡box¡¡to¡¡the¡¡seat¡¡beside¡¡it¡£¡¡
Diamond¡¡jumped¡¡across£»¡¡caught¡¡at¡¡the¡¡reins£»¡¡said¡¡¡¨Good¡night£»¡¡and
thank¡¡you£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Stonecrop£»¡¨¡¡and¡¡drove¡¡away¡¡home£»¡¡feeling¡¡more¡¡of¡¡a
man¡¡than¡¡he¡¡had¡¡ever¡¡yet¡¡had¡¡a¡¡chance¡¡of¡¡feeling¡¡in¡¡all¡¡his¡¡life¡£¡¡
Nor¡¡did¡¡his¡¡father¡¡find¡¡it¡¡necessary¡¡to¡¡give¡¡him¡¡a¡¡single¡¡hint
as¡¡to¡¡his¡¡driving¡£¡¡¡¡Only¡¡I¡¡suspect¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡old¡¡Diamond£»
and¡¡old¡¡Diamond¡¡on¡¡his¡¡way¡¡to¡¡his¡¡stable£»¡¡may¡¡have¡¡had¡¡something
to¡¡do¡¡with¡¡young¡¡Diamond's¡¡success¡£
¡¨Well£»¡¡child£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡his¡¡mother£»¡¡when¡¡he¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡room£»
¡¨you've¡¡not¡¡been¡¡long¡¡gone¡£¡¨
¡¨No£»¡¡mother£»¡¡here¡¡I¡¡am¡£¡¡¡¡Give¡¡me¡¡the¡¡baby¡£¡¨
¡¨The¡¡baby's¡¡asleep£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡his¡¡mother¡£
¡¨Then¡¡give¡¡him¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡I'll¡¡lay¡¡him¡¡down¡£¡¨
But¡¡as¡¡Diamond¡¡took¡¡him£»¡¡he¡¡woke¡¡up¡¡and¡¡began¡¡to¡¡laugh¡£¡¡
For¡¡he¡¡was¡¡indeed¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡merriest¡¡children¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡no¡¡wonder£»
for¡¡he¡¡was¡¡as¡¡plump¡¡as¡¡a¡¡plum¡pudding£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡never¡¡had¡¡an
ache¡¡or¡¡a¡¡pain¡¡that¡¡lasted¡¡more¡¡than¡¡five¡¡minutes¡¡at¡¡a¡¡time¡£¡¡
Diamond¡¡sat¡¡down¡¡with¡¡him¡¡and¡¡began¡¡to¡¡sing¡¡to¡¡him¡£
baby¡¡baby¡¡babbing¡¡your¡¡father's¡¡gone¡¡a¡cabbing¡¡to¡¡catch¡¡a¡¡shilling
for¡¡its¡¡pence¡¡to¡¡make¡¡the¡¡baby¡¡babbing¡¡dance¡¡for¡¡old¡¡Diamond's
a¡¡duck¡¡they¡¡say¡¡he¡¡can¡¡swim¡¡but¡¡the¡¡duck¡¡of¡¡diamonds¡¡is¡¡baby¡¡that's
him¡¡and¡¡of¡¡all¡¡the¡¡swallows¡¡the¡¡merriest¡¡fellows¡¡that¡¡bake¡¡their
cake¡¡with¡¡the¡¡water¡¡they¡¡shake¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡river¡¡flowing¡¡for¡¡ever
and¡¡make¡¡dust¡¡into¡¡clay¡¡on¡¡the¡¡shiniest¡¡day¡¡to¡¡build¡¡their¡¡nest
father's¡¡the¡¡best¡¡and¡¡mother's¡¡the¡¡whitest¡¡and¡¡her¡¡eyes¡¡are¡¡the
brightest¡¡of¡¡all¡¡the¡¡dams¡¡that¡¡watch¡¡their¡¡lambs¡¡cropping¡¡the¡¡grass
where¡¡the¡¡waters¡¡pass¡¡singing¡¡for¡¡ever¡¡and¡¡of¡¡all¡¡the¡¡lambs¡¡with
the¡¡shakingest¡¡tails¡¡and¡¡the¡¡jumpingest¡¡feet¡¡baby's¡¡the¡¡funniest
baby's¡¡the¡¡bonniest¡¡and¡¡he¡¡never¡¡wails¡¡and¡¡he's¡¡always¡¡sweet
and¡¡Diamond's¡¡his¡¡nurse¡¡and¡¡Diamond's¡¡his¡¡nurse¡¡and¡¡Diamond's¡¡his¡¡nurse
When¡¡Diamond's¡¡rhymes¡¡grew¡¡scarce£»¡¡he¡¡always¡¡began¡¡dancing¡¡the¡¡baby¡£¡¡
Some¡¡people¡¡wondered¡¡that¡¡such¡¡a¡¡child¡¡could¡¡rhyme¡¡as¡¡he¡¡did£»
but¡¡his¡¡rhymes¡¡were¡¡not¡¡very¡¡good£»¡¡for¡¡he¡¡was¡¡only¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡remember
what¡¡he¡¡had¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡river¡¡sing¡¡at¡¡the¡¡back¡¡of¡¡the¡¡north¡¡wind¡£
CHAPTER¡¡XVII
DIAMOND¡¡GOES¡¡ON
DIAMOND¡¡became¡¡a¡¡great¡¡favourite¡¡with¡¡all¡¡the¡¡men¡¡about¡¡the¡¡mews¡£¡¡
Some¡¡may¡¡think¡¡it¡¡was¡¡not¡¡the¡¡best¡¡place¡¡in¡¡the¡¡world¡¡for¡¡him
to¡¡be¡¡brought¡¡up¡¡in£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡must¡¡have¡¡been£»¡¡for¡¡there¡¡he¡¡was¡£¡¡
At¡¡first£»¡¡he¡¡heard¡¡a¡¡good¡¡many¡¡rough¡¡and¡¡bad¡¡words£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡did
not¡¡like¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡they¡¡did¡¡him¡¡little¡¡harm¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡did¡¡not¡¡know
in¡¡the¡¡least¡¡what¡¡they¡¡meant£»¡¡but¡¡there¡¡was¡¡something¡¡in¡¡the¡¡very
sound¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡the¡¡tone¡¡of¡¡voice¡¡in¡¡which¡¡they¡¡were¡¡said£»
which¡¡Diamond¡¡felt¡¡to¡¡be¡¡ugly¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡they¡¡did¡¡not¡¡even¡¡stick¡¡to¡¡him£»
not¡¡to¡¡say¡¡get¡¡inside¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡never¡¡took¡¡any¡¡notice¡¡of¡¡them£»
and¡¡his¡¡face¡¡shone¡¡pure¡¡and¡¡good¡¡in¡¡the¡¡middle¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡like¡¡a
primrose¡¡in¡¡a¡¡hailstorm¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡first£»¡¡because¡¡his¡¡face¡¡was¡¡so¡¡quiet
and¡¡sweet£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡smile¡¡always¡¡either¡¡awake¡¡or¡¡asleep¡¡in¡¡his¡¡eyes£»
and¡¡because¡¡he¡¡never¡¡heeded¡¡their¡¡ugly¡¡words¡¡and¡¡rough¡¡jokes£»
they¡¡said¡¡he¡¡wasn't¡¡all¡¡there£»¡¡meaning¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡half¡¡an¡¡idiot£»
whereas¡¡he¡¡was¡¡a¡¡great¡¡deal¡¡more¡¡there¡¡than¡¡they¡¡had¡¡the¡¡sense¡¡to¡¡see¡£¡¡
And¡¡before¡¡long¡¡the¡¡bad¡¡words¡¡found¡¡themselves¡¡ashamed¡¡to¡¡come
out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡men's¡¡mouths¡¡when¡¡Diamond¡¡was¡¡near¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡one¡¡would
nudge¡¡the¡¡other¡¡to¡¡remind¡¡him¡¡that¡¡the¡¡boy¡¡was¡¡within¡¡hearing£»
and¡¡the¡¡words¡¡choked¡¡themselves¡¡before¡¡they¡¡got¡¡any¡¡farther¡£¡¡
When¡¡they¡¡talked¡¡to¡¡him¡¡nicely¡¡he¡¡had¡¡always¡¡a¡¡good¡¡answer£»¡¡sometimes¡¡a
smart¡¡one£»¡¡ready£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡helped¡¡much¡¡to¡¡make¡¡them¡¡change¡¡their¡¡minds
about¡¡him¡£
One¡¡day¡¡Jack¡¡gave¡¡him¡¡a¡¡curry¡comb¡¡and¡¡a¡¡brush¡¡to¡¡try¡¡his¡¡hand
upon¡¡old¡¡Diamond's¡¡coat¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡used¡¡them¡¡so¡¡deftly£»¡¡so¡¡gently£»
and¡¡yet¡¡so¡¡thoroughly£»¡¡as¡¡far¡¡as¡¡he¡¡could¡¡reach£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡man¡¡could
not¡¡help¡¡admiring¡¡him¡£
¡¨You¡¡must¡¡make¡¡haste¡¡and£»¡¡grow¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡won't¡¡do¡¡to¡¡have
a¡¡horse's¡¡belly¡¡clean¡¡and¡¡his¡¡back¡¡dirty£»¡¡you¡¡know¡£¡¨
¡¨Give¡¡me¡¡a¡¡leg£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Diamond£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡he¡¡was¡¡on¡¡the¡¡old
horse's¡¡back¡¡with¡¡the¡¡comb¡¡and¡¡brush¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡sat¡¡on¡¡his¡¡withers£»
and¡¡reaching¡¡forward¡¡as¡¡he¡¡ate¡¡his¡¡hay£»¡¡he¡¡curried¡¡and¡¡he¡¡brushed£»
first¡¡at¡¡one¡¡side¡¡of¡¡his¡¡neck£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡at¡¡the¡¡other¡£¡¡
When¡¡that¡¡was¡¡done¡¡he¡¡asked¡¡for¡¡a¡¡dressing¡comb£»¡¡and¡¡combed
his¡¡mane¡¡thoroughly¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡he¡¡pushed¡¡himself¡¡on¡¡to¡¡his¡¡back£»
and¡¡did¡¡his¡¡shoulders¡¡as¡¡far¡¡down¡¡as¡¡he¡¡could¡¡reach¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡he¡¡sat
on¡¡his¡¡croup£»¡¡and¡¡did¡¡his¡¡back¡¡and¡¡sides£»¡¡then¡¡he¡¡turned¡¡around
like¡¡a¡¡monkey£»¡¡and¡¡attacked¡¡his¡¡hind¡quarters£»¡¡and¡¡combed¡¡his¡¡tail¡£¡¡
This¡¡last¡¡was¡¡not¡¡so¡¡easy¡¡to¡¡manage£»¡¡for¡¡he¡¡had¡¡to¡¡lift¡¡it¡¡up£»
and¡¡every¡¡now¡¡and¡¡then¡¡old¡¡Diamond¡¡would¡¡whisk¡¡it¡¡out¡¡of¡¡his¡¡hands£»
and¡¡once¡¡he¡¡sent¡¡the¡¡comb¡¡flying¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡stable¡¡door£»¡¡to¡¡the
great¡¡amusement¡¡of¡¡the¡¡men¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡Jack¡¡fetched¡¡it¡¡again£»¡¡and¡¡Diamond
began¡¡once¡¡more£»¡¡and¡¡did¡¡not¡¡leave¡¡off¡¡until¡¡he¡¡had¡¡done¡¡the¡¡whole
business¡¡fairly¡¡well£»¡¡if¡¡not¡¡in¡¡a¡¡first¡rate£»¡¡experienced¡¡fashion¡£¡¡
All¡¡the¡¡time¡¡the¡¡old¡¡horse¡¡went¡¡on¡¡eating¡¡his¡¡hay£»¡¡and£»¡¡but¡¡with¡¡an
occasional¡¡whisk¡¡of¡¡his¡¡tail¡¡when¡¡Diamond¡¡tickled¡¡or¡¡scratched¡¡him£»
took¡¡no¡¡notice¡¡of¡¡the¡¡proceeding¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡that¡¡was¡¡all¡¡a¡¡pretence£»
for¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡very¡¡well¡¡who¡¡it¡¡was¡¡that¡¡was¡¡perched¡¡on¡¡his¡¡back£»
and¡¡rubbing¡¡away¡¡at¡¡him¡¡with¡¡the¡¡comb¡¡and¡¡the¡¡brush¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡he¡¡was
quite¡¡pleased¡¡and¡¡proud£»¡¡and¡¡perhaps¡¡said¡¡to¡¡himself¡¡something
like¡¡this
¡¨I'm¡¡a¡¡stupid¡¡old¡¡horse£»¡¡who¡¡can't¡¡brush¡¡his¡¡own¡¡coat£»¡¡but¡¡there's
my¡¡young¡¡godson¡¡on¡¡my¡¡back£»¡¡cleaning¡¡me¡¡like¡¡an¡¡angel¡£¡¨
I¡¡won't¡¡vouch¡¡for¡¡what¡¡the¡¡old¡¡horse¡¡was¡¡thinking£»¡¡for¡¡it
is¡¡very¡¡difficult¡¡to¡¡find¡¡out¡¡what¡¡any¡¡old¡¡horse¡¡is¡¡thinking¡£
¡¨Oh¡¡dear£¡¡¨¡¡said¡¡Diamond¡¡when¡¡he¡¡had¡¡done£»¡¡¡¨I'm¡¡so¡¡tired£¡¡¨
And¡¡he¡¡laid¡¡himself¡¡down¡¡at¡¡full¡¡length¡¡on¡¡old¡¡Diamond's¡¡back¡£
By¡¡this¡¡time¡¡all¡¡the¡¡men¡¡in¡¡the¡¡stable¡¡we
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