But¡¡Diamond¡¡was¡¡not¡¡in¡¡the¡¡habit¡¡of¡¡thinking¡¡only¡¡of¡¡himself¡£¡¡
He¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡his¡¡new¡¡friend¡¡looked¡¡weary£»¡¡if¡¡not¡¡ill£»¡¡and¡¡very¡¡poor¡£
¡¨Won't¡¡you¡¡jump¡¡in£»¡¡sir£¿¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡will¡¡take¡¡you¡¡wherever
you¡¡like¡£¡¨
¡¨Thank¡¡you£»¡¡my¡¡man£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡have¡¡no¡¡money£»¡¡so¡¡I¡¡can't¡£¡¨
¡¨Oh£¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡want¡¡any¡¡money¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡much¡¡happier¡¡if¡¡you¡¡will
get¡¡in¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡have¡¡saved¡¡me¡¡all¡¡I¡¡had¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡owe¡¡you¡¡a¡¡lift£»¡¡sir¡£¡¨
¡¨Which¡¡way¡¡are¡¡you¡¡going£¿¡¨
¡¨To¡¡Charing¡¡Cross£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡mind¡¡where¡¡I¡¡go¡£¡¨
¡¨Well£»¡¡I¡¡am¡¡very¡¡tired¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡you¡¡will¡¡take¡¡me¡¡to¡¡Charing¡¡Cross£»
I¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡greatly¡¡obliged¡¡to¡¡you¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡have¡¡walked¡¡from¡¡Gravesend£»
and¡¡had¡¡hardly¡¡a¡¡penny¡¡left¡¡to¡¡get¡¡through¡¡the¡¡tunnel¡£¡¨
So¡¡saying£»¡¡he¡¡opened¡¡the¡¡door¡¡and¡¡got¡¡in£»¡¡and¡¡Diamond¡¡drove¡¡away¡£
But¡¡as¡¡he¡¡drove£»¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡help¡¡fancying¡¡he¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡the¡¡gentleman
for¡¡Diamond¡¡knew¡¡he¡¡was¡¡a¡¡gentlemanbefore¡£¡¡¡¡Do¡¡all¡¡he¡¡could£»
however£»¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡recall¡¡where¡¡or¡¡when¡£¡¡¡¡Meantime¡¡his¡¡fare£»
if¡¡we¡¡may¡¡call¡¡him¡¡such£»¡¡seeing¡¡he¡¡was¡¡to¡¡pay¡¡nothing£»¡¡whom¡¡the¡¡relief
of¡¡being¡¡carried¡¡had¡¡made¡¡less¡¡and¡¡less¡¡inclined¡¡to¡¡carry¡¡himself£»
had¡¡been¡¡turning¡¡over¡¡things¡¡in¡¡his¡¡mind£»¡¡and£»¡¡as¡¡they¡¡passed
the¡¡Mint£»¡¡called¡¡to¡¡Diamond£»¡¡who¡¡stopped¡¡the¡¡horse£»¡¡got¡¡down
and¡¡went¡¡to¡¡the¡¡window¡£
¡¨If¡¡you¡¡didn't¡¡mind¡¡taking¡¡me¡¡to¡¡Chiswick£»¡¡I¡¡should¡¡be¡¡able
to¡¡pay¡¡you¡¡when¡¡we¡¡got¡¡there¡£¡¡¡¡It's¡¡a¡¡long¡¡way£»¡¡but¡¡you¡¡shall
have¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡fare¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Docksand¡¡something¡¡over¡£¡¨
¡¨Very¡¡well£»¡¡sir¡¨¡¡said¡¡Diamond¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡most¡¡happy¡£¡¨
He¡¡was¡¡just¡¡clambering¡¡up¡¡again£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡gentleman¡¡put¡¡his¡¡head
out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡window¡¡and¡¡said
¡¨It's¡¡The¡¡WildernessMr¡£¡¡Coleman's¡¡place£»¡¡but¡¡I'll¡¡direct¡¡you
when¡¡we¡¡come¡¡into¡¡the¡¡neighbourhood¡£¡¨
It¡¡flashed¡¡upon¡¡Diamond¡¡who¡¡he¡¡was¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡he¡¡got¡¡upon¡¡his¡¡box
to¡¡arrange¡¡his¡¡thoughts¡¡before¡¡making¡¡any¡¡reply¡£
The¡¡gentleman¡¡was¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Evans£»¡¡to¡¡whom¡¡Miss¡¡Coleman¡¡was¡¡to¡¡have¡¡been
married£»¡¡and¡¡Diamond¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡him¡¡several¡¡times¡¡with¡¡her¡¡in¡¡the¡¡garden¡£¡¡
I¡¡have¡¡said¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡not¡¡behaved¡¡very¡¡well¡¡to¡¡Miss¡¡Coleman¡£¡¡
He¡¡had¡¡put¡¡off¡¡their¡¡marriage¡¡more¡¡than¡¡once¡¡in¡¡a¡¡cowardly¡¡fashion£»
merely¡¡because¡¡he¡¡was¡¡ashamed¡¡to¡¡marry¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡small¡¡income£»
and¡¡live¡¡in¡¡a¡¡humble¡¡way¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡a¡¡man¡¡thinks¡¡of¡¡what¡¡people¡¡will¡¡say
in¡¡such¡¡a¡¡case£»¡¡he¡¡may¡¡love£»¡¡but¡¡his¡¡love¡¡is¡¡but¡¡a¡¡poor¡¡affair¡£¡¡
Mr¡£¡¡Coleman¡¡took¡¡him¡¡into¡¡the¡¡firm¡¡as¡¡a¡¡junior¡¡partner£»¡¡and¡¡it
was¡¡in¡¡a¡¡measure¡¡through¡¡his¡¡influence¡¡that¡¡he¡¡entered¡¡upon¡¡those
speculations¡¡which¡¡ruined¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡his¡¡love¡¡had¡¡not¡¡been¡¡a¡¡blessing¡£¡¡
The¡¡ship¡¡which¡¡North¡¡Wind¡¡had¡¡sunk¡¡was¡¡their¡¡last¡¡venture£»
and¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Evans¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡out¡¡with¡¡it¡¡in¡¡the¡¡hope¡¡of¡¡turning¡¡its
cargo¡¡to¡¡the¡¡best¡¡advantage¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡single¡¡boat¡load
which¡¡managed¡¡to¡¡reach¡¡a¡¡desert¡¡island£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡through
a¡¡great¡¡many¡¡hardships¡¡and¡¡sufferings¡¡since¡¡then¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡he¡¡was¡¡not
past¡¡being¡¡taught£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡troubles¡¡had¡¡done¡¡him¡¡no¡¡end¡¡of¡¡good£»
for¡¡they¡¡had¡¡made¡¡him¡¡doubt¡¡himself£»¡¡and¡¡begin¡¡to¡¡think£»¡¡so¡¡that
he¡¡had¡¡come¡¡to¡¡see¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡foolish¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡wicked¡£¡¡
For£»¡¡if¡¡he¡¡had¡¡had¡¡Miss¡¡Coleman¡¡with¡¡him¡¡in¡¡the¡¡desert¡¡island£»
to¡¡build¡¡her¡¡a¡¡hut£»¡¡and¡¡hunt¡¡for¡¡her¡¡food£»¡¡and¡¡make¡¡clothes¡¡for¡¡her£»
he¡¡would¡¡have¡¡thought¡¡himself¡¡the¡¡most¡¡fortunate¡¡of¡¡men£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡he
was¡¡at¡¡home£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡not¡¡marry¡¡till¡¡he¡¡could¡¡afford¡¡a¡¡man¡servant¡£
Before¡¡he¡¡got¡¡home¡¡again£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡even¡¡begun¡¡to¡¡understand¡¡that¡¡no¡¡man
can¡¡make¡¡haste¡¡to¡¡be¡¡rich¡¡without¡¡going¡¡against¡¡the¡¡will¡¡of¡¡God£»
in¡¡which¡¡case¡¡it¡¡is¡¡the¡¡one¡¡frightful¡¡thing¡¡to¡¡be¡¡successful¡£¡¡
So¡¡he¡¡had¡¡come¡¡back¡¡a¡¡more¡¡humble¡¡man£»¡¡and¡¡longing¡¡to¡¡ask¡¡Miss¡¡Coleman
to¡¡forgive¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡he¡¡had¡¡no¡¡idea¡¡what¡¡ruin¡¡had¡¡fallen¡¡upon¡¡them£»
for¡¡he¡¡had¡¡never¡¡made¡¡himself¡¡thoroughly¡¡acquainted¡¡with¡¡the
firm's¡¡affairs¡£¡¡¡¡Few¡¡speculative¡¡people¡¡do¡¡know¡¡their¡¡own¡¡affairs¡£¡¡
Hence¡¡he¡¡never¡¡doubted¡¡he¡¡should¡¡find¡¡matters¡¡much¡¡as¡¡he¡¡left¡¡them£»
and¡¡expected¡¡to¡¡see¡¡them¡¡all¡¡at¡¡The¡¡Wilderness¡¡as¡¡before¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡if¡¡he
had¡¡not¡¡fallen¡¡in¡¡with¡¡Diamond£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡not¡¡have¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡going
there¡¡first¡£
What¡¡was¡¡Diamond¡¡to¡¡do£¿¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡heard¡¡his¡¡father¡¡and¡¡mother¡¡drop
some¡¡remarks¡¡concerning¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Evans¡¡which¡¡made¡¡him¡¡doubtful¡¡of¡¡him¡£¡¡
He¡¡understood¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡not¡¡been¡¡so¡¡considerate¡¡as¡¡he¡¡might¡¡have¡¡been¡£¡¡
So¡¡he¡¡went¡¡rather¡¡slowly¡¡till¡¡he¡¡should¡¡make¡¡up¡¡his¡¡mind¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was£»
of¡¡course£»¡¡of¡¡no¡¡use¡¡to¡¡drive¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Evans¡¡to¡¡Chiswick¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡if¡¡he
should¡¡tell¡¡him¡¡what¡¡had¡¡befallen¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡where¡¡they¡¡lived¡¡now£»
he¡¡might¡¡put¡¡off¡¡going¡¡to¡¡see¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡was¡¡certain¡¡that¡¡Miss¡¡Coleman£»
at¡¡least£»¡¡must¡¡want¡¡very¡¡much¡¡to¡¡see¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Evans¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡pretty¡¡sure
also¡¡that¡¡the¡¡best¡¡thing¡¡in¡¡any¡¡case¡¡was¡¡to¡¡bring¡¡them¡¡together£»
and¡¡let¡¡them¡¡set¡¡matters¡¡right¡¡for¡¡themselves¡£
The¡¡moment¡¡he¡¡came¡¡to¡¡this¡¡conclusion£»¡¡he¡¡changed¡¡his¡¡course¡¡from
westward¡¡to¡¡northward£»¡¡and¡¡went¡¡straight¡¡for¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Coleman's¡¡poor
little¡¡house¡¡in¡¡Hoxton¡£¡¡¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Evans¡¡was¡¡too¡¡tired¡¡and¡¡too¡¡much
occupied¡¡with¡¡his¡¡thoughts¡¡to¡¡take¡¡the¡¡least¡¡notice¡¡of¡¡the¡¡streets
they¡¡passed¡¡through£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡no¡¡suspicion£»¡¡therefore£»¡¡of¡¡the¡¡change
of¡¡direction¡£
By¡¡this¡¡time¡¡the¡¡wind¡¡had¡¡increased¡¡almost¡¡to¡¡a¡¡hurricane£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡they
had¡¡often¡¡to¡¡head¡¡it£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡no¡¡joke¡¡for¡¡either¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Diamonds¡£¡¡
The¡¡distance£»¡¡however£»¡¡was¡¡not¡¡great¡£¡¡¡¡Before¡¡they¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡street
where¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Coleman¡¡lived¡¡it¡¡blew¡¡so¡¡tremendously£»¡¡that¡¡when¡¡Miss¡¡Coleman£»
who¡¡was¡¡going¡¡out¡¡a¡¡little¡¡way£»¡¡opened¡¡the¡¡door£»¡¡it¡¡dashed¡¡against
the¡¡wall¡¡with¡¡such¡¡a¡¡bang£»¡¡that¡¡she¡¡was¡¡afraid¡¡to¡¡venture£»¡¡and¡¡went
in¡¡again¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡five¡¡minutes¡¡after£»¡¡Diamond¡¡drew¡¡up¡¡at¡¡the¡¡door¡£¡¡
As¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡he¡¡had¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡street£»¡¡however£»¡¡the¡¡wind¡¡blew
right¡¡behind¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡he¡¡pulled¡¡up£»¡¡old¡¡Diamond¡¡had¡¡so¡¡much
ado¡¡to¡¡stop¡¡the¡¡cab¡¡against¡¡it£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡breeching¡¡broke¡£¡¡
Young¡¡Diamond¡¡jumped¡¡off¡¡his¡¡box£»¡¡knocked¡¡loudly¡¡at¡¡the¡¡door£»
then¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡the¡¡cab¡¡and¡¡saidbefore¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Evans¡¡had¡¡quite¡¡begun
to¡¡think¡¡something¡¡must¡¡be¡¡amiss£º
¡¨Please£»¡¡sir£»¡¡my¡¡harness¡¡has¡¡given¡¡away¡£¡¡¡¡Would¡¡you¡¡mind¡¡stepping
in¡¡here¡¡for¡¡a¡¡few¡¡minutes£¿¡¡¡¡They're¡¡friends¡¡of¡¡mine¡£¡¡¡¡I'll¡¡take¡¡you
where¡¡you¡¡like¡¡after¡¡I've¡¡got¡¡it¡¡mended¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡shan't¡¡be¡¡many¡¡minutes£»
but¡¡you¡¡can't¡¡stand¡¡in¡¡this¡¡wind¡£¡¨
Half¡¡stupid¡¡with¡¡fatigue¡¡and¡¡want¡¡of¡¡food£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Evans¡¡yielded
to¡¡the¡¡boy's¡¡suggestion£»¡¡and¡¡walked¡¡in¡¡at¡¡the¡¡door¡¡which¡¡the¡¡maid
held¡¡with¡¡difficulty¡¡against¡¡the¡¡wind¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡took¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Evans
for¡¡a¡¡visitor£»¡¡as¡¡indeed¡¡he¡¡was£»¡¡and¡¡showed¡¡him¡¡into¡¡the¡¡room
on¡¡the¡¡ground¡floor¡£¡¡Diamond£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡followed¡¡into¡¡the¡¡hall£»
whispered¡¡to¡¡her¡¡as¡¡she¡¡closed¡¡the¡¡door
¡¨Tell¡¡Miss¡¡Coleman¡£¡¡¡¡It's¡¡Miss¡¡Coleman¡¡he¡¡wants¡¡to¡¡see¡£¡¨
¡¨I¡¡don't¡¡know¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡maid¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨He¡¡don't¡¡look¡¡much¡¡like¡¡a¡¡gentleman¡£¡¨
¡¨He¡¡is£»¡¡though£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡know¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡does¡¡Miss¡¡Coleman¡£¡¨
The¡¡maid¡¡could¡¡not¡¡but¡¡remember¡¡Diamond£»¡¡having¡¡seen¡¡him¡¡when¡¡he
and¡¡his¡¡father¡¡brought¡¡the¡¡ladies¡¡home¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡she¡¡believed¡¡him£»
and¡¡went¡¡to¡¡do¡¡what¡¡he¡¡told¡¡her¡£
What¡¡passed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡little¡¡parlour¡¡when¡¡Miss¡¡Coleman¡¡came¡¡down
does¡¡not¡¡belong¡¡to¡¡my¡¡story£»¡¡which¡¡is¡¡all¡¡about¡¡Diamond¡£¡¡
If¡¡he¡¡had¡¡known¡¡that¡¡Miss¡¡Coleman¡¡thought¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Evans¡¡was¡¡dead£»
perhaps¡¡he¡¡would¡¡have¡¡managed¡¡differently¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡cry
and¡¡a¡¡running¡¡to¡¡and¡¡fro¡¡in¡¡the¡¡house£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡all¡¡was¡¡quiet¡¡again¡£
Almost¡¡as¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Evans¡¡went¡¡in£»¡¡the¡¡wind¡¡began¡¡to¡¡cease£»
and¡¡was¡¡now¡¡still¡£¡¡¡¡Diamond¡¡found¡¡that¡¡by¡¡making¡¡the¡¡breeching
just¡¡a¡¡little¡¡tighter¡¡than¡¡was¡¡quite¡¡comfortable¡¡for¡¡the¡¡old
horse¡¡he¡¡could¡¡do¡¡very¡¡well¡¡for¡¡the¡¡present£»¡¡and£»¡¡thinking¡¡it
better¡¡to¡¡let¡¡him¡¡have¡¡his¡¡bag¡¡in¡¡this¡¡quiet¡¡place£»¡¡he¡¡sat
on¡¡the¡¡box¡¡till¡¡the¡¡old¡¡horse¡¡should¡¡have¡¡eaten¡¡his¡¡dinner¡£¡¡
In¡¡a¡¡little¡¡while¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Evans¡¡came¡¡out£»¡¡and¡¡asked¡¡him¡¡to¡¡come¡¡in¡£¡¡
Diamond¡¡obeyed£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡his¡¡delight¡¡Miss¡¡Coleman¡¡put¡¡her¡¡arms¡¡round
him¡¡and¡¡kissed¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡was¡¡payment¡¡for¡¡him£¡¡¡¡¡Not¡¡to¡¡mention
the¡¡five¡¡precious¡¡shillings¡¡she¡¡gave¡¡him£»¡¡which¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡refuse
because¡¡his¡¡mother¡¡wanted¡¡them¡¡so¡¡much¡¡at¡¡home¡¡for¡¡his¡¡father¡£¡¡
He¡¡left¡¡them¡¡nearly¡¡as¡¡happy¡¡as¡¡they¡¡were¡¡themselves¡£
The¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡the¡¡day¡¡he¡¡did¡¡better£»¡¡and£»¡¡although¡¡he¡¡had¡¡not¡¡so
much¡¡to¡¡take¡¡home¡¡as¡¡the¡¡day¡¡before£»¡¡yet¡¡on¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡the¡¡result
was¡¡satisfactory¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡what¡¡a¡¡story¡¡he¡¡had¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡his¡¡father
and¡¡mother¡¡about¡¡his¡¡adventures£»¡¡and¡¡how¡¡he¡¡had¡¡done£»¡¡and¡¡what¡¡was
the¡¡result£¡¡¡¡¡They¡¡asked¡¡him¡¡such¡¡a¡¡multitude¡¡of¡¡questions£¡¡¡some
of¡¡which¡¡he¡¡could¡¡answer£»¡¡and¡¡some¡¡of¡¡which¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡answer£»
and¡¡his¡¡father¡¡seemed¡¡ever¡¡so¡¡much¡¡better¡¡from¡¡finding¡¡that¡¡his¡¡boy
was¡¡already¡¡not¡¡only¡¡useful¡¡to¡¡his¡¡family¡¡but¡¡useful¡¡to¡¡other¡¡people£»
and¡¡quite¡¡taking¡¡his¡¡place¡¡as¡¡a¡¡man¡¡who¡¡judged¡¡what¡¡was¡¡wise£»
and¡¡did¡¡work¡¡worth¡¡doing¡£
For¡¡a¡¡fortnight¡¡Diamond¡¡went¡¡on¡¡driving¡¡his¡¡cab£»¡¡and¡¡keeping¡¡his¡¡family¡£¡¡
He¡¡had¡¡begun¡¡to¡¡be¡¡known¡¡about¡¡some¡¡parts¡¡of¡¡London£»¡¡and¡¡people¡¡would
prefer¡¡taking¡¡his¡¡cab¡¡because¡¡they¡¡liked¡¡what¡¡they¡¡heard¡¡of¡¡him¡£¡¡
One¡¡gentleman¡¡who¡¡lived¡¡near¡¡the¡¡mews¡¡engaged¡¡him¡¡to¡¡carry¡¡him
to¡¡the¡¡City¡¡every¡¡morning¡¡at¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡hour£»¡¡and¡¡Diamond¡¡was
punctual¡¡as¡¡clockworkthough¡¡to¡¡effect¡¡that¡¡required¡¡a¡¡good¡¡deal
of¡¡care£»¡¡for¡¡his¡¡father's¡¡watch¡¡was¡¡not¡¡much¡¡to¡¡be¡¡depended¡¡on£»
and¡¡had¡¡to¡¡be¡¡watched¡¡
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