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by the river and tossed for ever by the wind that tosses the swallow
that crosses over the shallows dipping his wings to gather the water
and bake the cake that the wind shall make as hard as a bone as dry
as a stone it's all in the wind that blows from behind and all in
the river that flows for ever and all in the grasses and the white
daisies and the merry sheep awake or asleep and the happy swallows
skimming the shallows and it's all in the wind that blows from behind
Here Diamond became aware that his mother had stopped reading。
〃Why don't you go on； mother dear？〃 he asked。
〃It's such nonsense！〃 said his mother。 〃I believe it would go
on for ever。〃
〃That's just what it did；〃 said Diamond。
〃What did？〃 she asked。
〃Why； the river。 That's almost the very tune it used to sing。〃
His mother was frightened； for she thought the fever was coming
on again。 So she did not contradict him。
〃Who made that poem？〃 asked Diamond。
〃I don't know；〃 she answered。 〃Some silly woman for her children；
I supposeand then thought it good enough to print。〃
〃She must have been at the back of the north wind some time
or other； anyhow；〃 said Diamond。 〃She couldn't have got a hold of it
anywhere else。 That's just how it went。〃 And he began to chant
bits of it here and there； but his mother said nothing for fear
of making him； worse； and she was very glad indeed when she saw
her brother…in…law jogging along in his little cart。 They lifted
Diamond in； and got up themselves； and away they went； 〃home again；
home again； home again；〃 as Diamond sang。 But he soon grew quiet；
and before they reached Sandwich he was fast asleep and dreaming
of the country at the back of the north wind。
CHAPTER XIV
OLD DIAMOND
AFTER this Diamond recovered so fast； that in a few days he was quite
able to go home as soon as his father had a place for them to go。
Now his father having saved a little money； and finding that no
situation offered itself； had been thinking over a new plan。
A strange occurrence it was which turned his thoughts in that direction。
He had a friend in the Bloomsbury region； who lived by letting
out cabs and horses to the cabmen。 This man； happening to meet
him one day as he was returning from an unsuccessful application；
said to him：
〃Why don't you set up for yourself nowin the cab line； I mean？〃
〃I haven't enough for that；〃 answered Diamond's father。
〃You must have saved a goodish bit； I should think。 Just come home
with me now and look at a horse I can let you have cheap。 I bought him
only a few weeks ago； thinking he'd do for a Hansom； but I was wrong。
He's got bone enough for a waggon； but a waggon ain't a Hansom。
He ain't got go enough for a Hansom。 You see parties as takes
Hansoms wants to go like the wind； and he ain't got wind enough；
for he ain't so young as he once was。 But for a four…wheeler
as takes families and their luggages； he's the very horse。
He'd carry a small house any day。 I bought him cheap； and I'll sell
him cheap。〃
〃Oh； I don't want him；〃 said Diamond's father。 〃A body must have
time to think over an affair of so much importance。 And there's
the cab too。 That would come to a deal of money。〃
〃I could fit you there； I daresay；〃 said his friend。 〃But come
and look at the animal； anyhow。〃
〃Since I lost my own old pair； as was Mr。 Coleman's；〃
said Diamond's father； turning to accompany the cab…master；
〃I ain't almost got the heart to look a horse in the face。
It's a thousand pities to part man and horse。〃
〃So it is；〃 returned his friend sympathetically。
But what was the ex…coachman's delight； when； on going into the
stable where his friend led him； he found the horse he wanted him
to buy was no other than his own old Diamond； grown very thin
and bony and long…legged； as if they； had been doing what they
could to fit him for Hansom work！
〃He ain't a Hansom horse；〃 said Diamond's father indignantly。
〃Well； you're right。 He ain't handsome； but he's a good un〃
said his owner。
〃Who says he ain't handsome？ He's one of the handsomest horses
a gentleman's coachman ever druv；〃 said Diamond's father；
remarking to himself under his breath〃though I says it as shouldn't〃
for he did not feel inclined all at once to confess that his own
old horse could have sunk so low。
〃Well；〃 said his friend； 〃all I say isThere's a animal for you；
as strong as a church； an'll go like a train； leastways a parly；〃
he added； correcting himself。
But the coachman had a lump in his throat and tears in his eyes。
For the old horse； hearing his voice； had turned his long neck；
and when his old friend went up to him and laid his hand on his side；
he whinnied for joy； and laid his big head on his master's breast。
This settled the matter。 The coachman's arms were round the
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：
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