按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
for； as Diamond says； it's only loving a thing that can make it yours
and I do love old Diamond； sir； dearly。〃
〃Well； there's a cheque for twenty pounds； which I wrote to offer
you for him； in case I should find you had done the handsome thing
by Ruby。 Will that be enough？〃
〃It's too much； sir。 His body ain't worth itshoes and all。
It's only his heart； sirthat's worth millionsbut his heart'll be
mine all the sameso it's too much； sir。〃
〃I don't think so。 It won't be； at least； by the time we've got him
fed up again。 You take it and welcome。 Just go on with your cabbing
for another month； only take it out of Ruby and let Diamond rest；
and by that time I shall be ready for you to go down into the country。〃
〃Thank you； sir。 thank you。 Diamond set you down for a friend；
sir； the moment he saw you。 I do believe that child of mine
knows more than other people。〃
〃I think so； too；〃 said Mr。 Raymond as he walked away。
He had meant to test Joseph when he made the bargain about Ruby；
but had no intention of so greatly prolonging the trial。 He had been
taken ill in Switzerland； and had been quite unable to return sooner。
He went away now highly gratified at finding that he had stood the test；
and was a true man。
Joseph rushed in to his wife who had been standing at the window
anxiously waiting the result of the long colloquy。 When she
heard that the horses were to go together in double harness；
she burst forth into an immoderate fit of laughter。 Diamond came
up with the baby in his arms and made big anxious eyes at her； saying
〃What is the matter with you； mother dear？ Do cry a little。
It will do you good。 When father takes ever so small a drop of spirits；
he puts water to it。〃
〃You silly darling！〃 said his mother； 〃how could I but laugh at
the notion of that great fat Ruby going side by side with our poor
old Diamond？〃
〃But why not； mother？ With a month's oats； and nothing to do；
Diamond'll be nearer Ruby's size than you will father's。 I think
it's very good for different sorts to go together。 Now Ruby will
have a chance of teaching Diamond better manners。〃
〃How dare you say such a thing； Diamond？〃 said his father； angrily。
〃To compare the two for manners； there's no comparison possible。
Our Diamond's a gentleman。〃
〃I don't mean to say he isn't； father； for I daresay some
gentlemen judge their neighbours unjustly。 That's all I mean。
Diamond shouldn't have thought such bad things of Ruby。 He didn't
try to make the best of him。〃
〃How do you know that； pray？〃
〃I heard them talking about it one night。〃
〃Who？〃
〃Why Diamond and Ruby。 Ruby's an angel。〃
Joseph stared and said no more。 For all his new gladness；
he was very gloomy as he re…harnessed the angel； for he thought
his darling Diamond was going out of his mind。
He could not help thinking rather differently； however； when he found
the change that had come over Ruby。 Considering his fat； he exerted
himself amazingly； and got over the ground with incredible speed。
So willing； even anxious； was he to go now； that Joseph had to hold
him quite tight。
Then as he laughed at his own fancies； a new fear came upon him lest
the horse should break his wind； and Mr。 Raymond have good cause
to think he had not been using him well。 He might even suppose
that he had taken advantage of his new instructions； to let out
upon the horse some of his pent…up dislike； whereas in truth；
it had so utterly vanished that he felt as if Ruby； too； had been
his friend all the time。
CHAPTER XXXIV
IN THE COUNTRY
BEFORE the end of the month； Ruby had got respectably thin；
and Diamond respectably stout。 They really began to look fit
for double harness。
Joseph and his wife got their affairs in order； and everything ready
for migrating at the shortest notice； and they felt so peaceful
and happy that they judged all the trouble they had gone through
well worth enduring。 As for Nanny； she had been so happy ever
since she left the hospital； that she expected nothing better；
and saw nothing attractive in the notion of the country。
At the same time； she had not the least idea of what the word
country meant； for she had never seen anything about her but streets
and gas…lamps。 Besides； she was more attached to Jim than to Diamond：
Jim was a reasonable being； Diamond in her eyes at best only an amiable；
over…grown baby； whom no amount of expostulation would ever bring
to talk sense； not to say think it。 Now that she could manage
the baby as well as he； she judged herself altogether his superior。
Towards his father and mother； she was all they could wish。
Diamond had taken a great deal of pains and trouble to find Jim；
and had at last succeeded through the help of the tall policeman；
who was glad to renew his acquaintance with the strange child。
Jim had moved his quarters； and had not heard of Nanny's illness till
some time after she was taken to the hospital； where he was too shy
to go and inquire about her。 But when at length she went to live
with Diamond's family； Jim was willing enough to go and see her。
It was after one of his visits； during which they had been talking
of her new prospects； that Nanny expressed to Diamond her opinion of
the country。
〃There ain't nothing in it but the sun and moon； Diamond。〃
〃There's trees and flowers；〃 said Diamond。
〃Well； they ain't no count；〃 returned Nanny。
〃Ain't they？ They're so beautiful； they make you happy to look
at them。〃
〃That's because you're such a silly。〃
Diamond smiled with a far…away look； as if he were gazing
through clouds of green leaves and the vision contented him。
But he was thinking with himself what more he could do for Nanny；
and that same evening he went to find Mr。 Raymond； for he had heard
that he had returned to town。
〃Ah！ how do you do； Diamond？〃 said Mr。 Raymond； 〃I am glad to see you。〃
And he was indeed； for he had grown very fond of him。 His opinion
of him was very different from Nanny's。
〃What do you want now； my child？〃 he asked。
〃I'm always wanting something； sir；〃 answered Diamond。
〃Well； that's quite right； so long as what you want is right。
Everybody is always wanting something； only we don't mention it in
the right place often enough。 What is it now？〃
〃There's a friend of Nanny's； a lame boy； called Jim。〃
〃I've heard of him；〃 said Mr。 Raymond。 〃Well？〃
〃Nanny doesn't care much about going to the country； sir。〃
〃Well； what has that to do with Jim？〃
〃You couldn't find a corner for Jim to work incould you； sir？〃
〃I don't know that I couldn't。 That is； if you can show good reason
for it。〃
〃He's a good boy； sir。〃
〃Well； so much the better for him。〃
〃I know he can shine boots； sir。〃
〃So much the better for us。〃
〃You want your boots shined in the countrydon't you； sir？〃