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He had to look twice； however； before he could be sure that that
was his boy in the middle of the tumult。 He rushed in； and sent
the assailants flying in all directions。 The girl thanked Diamond；
and began sweeping as if nothing had happened； while his father
led him away。 With the help of old Tom； the waterman； he was soon
washed into decency； and his father set him on the box again；
perfectly satisfied with the account he gave of the cause of his being
in a fray。
〃I couldn't let them behave so to a poor girlcould I； father？〃
he said。
〃Certainly not； Diamond；〃 said his father； quite pleased；
for Diamond's father was a gentleman。
A moment after； up came the girl； running； with her broom over
her shoulder； and calling； 〃Cab； there！ cab！〃
Diamond's father turned instantly； for he was the foremost in the rank；
and followed the girl。 One or two other passing cabs heard the cry；
and made for the place； but the girl had taken care not to call
till she was near enough to give her friends the first chance。
When they reached the curbstonewho should it be waiting for the cab
but Mrs。 and Miss Coleman！ They did not look at the cabman； however。
The girl opened the door for them； they gave her the address；
and a penny； she told the cabman； and away they drove。
When they reached the house； Diamond's father got down and rang
the bell。 As he opened the door of the cab； he touched his hat
as he had been wont to do。 The ladies both stared for a moment；
and then exclaimed together：
〃Why； Joseph！ can it be you？〃
〃Yes； ma'am； yes； miss；〃 answered he； again touching his hat；
with all the respect he could possibly put into the action。
〃It's a lucky day which I see you once more upon it。〃
〃Who would have thought it？〃 said Mrs。 Coleman。 〃It's changed
times for both of us； Joseph； and it's not very often we can
have a cab even； but you see my daughter is still very poorly；
and she can't bear the motion of the omnibuses。 Indeed we meant
to walk a bit first before we took a cab； but just at the corner；
for as hot as the sun was； a cold wind came down the street；
and I saw that Miss Coleman must not face it。 But to think
we should have fallen upon you； of all the cabmen in London！
I didn't know you had got a cab。〃
〃Well； you see； ma'am； I had a chance of buying the old horse；
and I couldn't resist him。 There he is； looking at you； ma'am。 Nobody
knows the sense in that head of his。〃
The two ladies went near to pat the horse； and then they noticed
Diamond on the box。
〃Why； you've got both Diamonds with you；〃 said Miss Coleman。
〃How do you do； Diamond？〃
Diamond lifted his cap； and answered politely。
〃He'll be fit to drive himself before long；〃 said his father；
proudly。 〃The old horse is a…teaching of him。〃
〃Well； he must come and see us； now you've found us out。
Where do you live？〃
Diamond's father gave the ladies a ticket with his name and address
printed on it； and then Mrs。 Coleman took out her purse； saying：
〃And what's your fare； Joseph？〃
〃No； thank you； ma'am；〃 said Joseph。 〃It was your own old horse
as took you； and me you paid long ago。〃
He jumped on his box before she could say another word；
and with a parting salute drove off； leaving them on the pavement；
with the maid holding the door for them。
It was a long time now since Diamond had seen North Wind；
or even thought much about her。 And as his father drove along；
he was thinking not about her； but about the crossing…sweeper；
and was wondering what made him feel as if he knew her quite well；
when he could not remember anything of her。 But a picture arose
in his mind of a little girl running before the wind and dragging
her broom after her； and from that； by degrees； he recalled the
whole adventure of the night when he got down from North Wind's
back in a London street。 But he could not quite satisfy himself
whether the whole affair was not a dream which he had dreamed
when he was a very little boy。 Only he had been to the back of
the north wind sincethere could be no doubt of that； for when he
woke every morning； he always knew that he had been there again。
And as he thought and thought； he recalled another thing that had
happened that morning； which； although it seemed a mere accident；
might have something to do with what had happened since。 His father
had intended going on the stand at King's Cross that morning； and had
turned into Gray's Inn Lane to drive there； when they found the way
blocked up； and upon inquiry were informed that a stack of chimneys
had been blown down in the night； and had fallen across the road。
They were just clearing the rubbish away。 Diamond's father turned；
and made for Charing Cross。
That night the father and mother had a great deal to talk about。
〃Poor things！〃 said the mother。 〃it's worse for them than it
is for us。 You see they've been used to such grand things；
and for them to come down to a little poky house like that
it breaks my heart to think of it。〃
〃I don't know〃 said Diamond thoughtfully； 〃whether Mrs。 Coleman
had bells on her toes。〃
〃What do you mean； child？〃 said his mother。
〃She had rings on her fingers； anyhow；〃 returned Diamond。
〃Of course she had； as any lady would。 What has that to do with it？〃
〃When we were down at Sandwich；〃 said Diamond； 〃you said you would
have to part with your mother's ring； now we were poor。〃
〃Bless the child； he forgets nothing；〃 said his mother。
〃Really； Diamond； a body would need to mind what they say to you。〃
〃Why？〃 said Diamond。 〃I only think about it。〃
〃That's just why；〃 said the mother。
〃Why is that why？〃 persisted Diamond； for he had not yet learned
that grown…up people are not often so much grown up that they
never talk like childrenand spoilt ones too。
〃Mrs。 Coleman is none so poor as all that yet。 No； thank Heaven！
she's not come to that。〃
〃Is it a great disgrace to be poor？〃 asked Diamond； because of
the tone in which his mother had spoken。
But his mother； whether conscience…stricken I do not know hurried
him away to bed； where after various attempts to understand her；
resumed and resumed again in spite of invading sleep； he was
conquered at last； and gave in； murmuring over and over to himself；
〃Why is why？〃 but getting no answer to the question。
CHAPTER XVIII
THE DRUNKEN CABMAN
A FEW nights after this； Diamond woke up suddenly； believing he heard
North Wind thundering along。 But it was something quite different。
South Wind was moaning round the chimneys； to be sure； for she
was not very happy that night； but it was not her voice that had
wakened Diamond。 Her voice would only have lulled him the deeper asleep。
It was a loud； angry voice； now growling like that of a beast；
now raving like that of a madman； and when Diamond came a little
wider awake； he knew that it was the voice o