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〃Husband；〃 said his mother； coming up； 〃you're never going to trust
him with the reinsa baby like that？〃
〃He must learn some day； and he can't begin too soon。 I see already
he's a born coachman；〃 said his father proudly。 〃And I don't see
well how he could escape it； for my father and my grandfather；
that's his great…grandfather； was all coachmen； I'm told； so it
must come natural to him； any one would think。 Besides； you see；
old Diamond's as proud of him as we are our own selves； wife。 Don't you
see how he's turning round his ears； with the mouths of them open；
for the first word he speaks to tumble in？ He's too well bred
to turn his head； you know。〃
〃Well； but； husband； I can't do without him to…day。 Everything's
got to be done； you know。 It's my first day here。 And there's
that baby！〃
〃Bless you； wife！ I never meant to take him awayonly to the
bottom of Endell Street。 He can watch his way back。〃
〃No thank you； father； not to…day；〃 said Diamond。 〃Mother wants me。
Perhaps she'll let me go another day。〃
〃Very well； my man；〃 said his father； and took the reins which
Diamond was holding out to him。
Diamond got down； a little disappointed of course； and went with
his mother； who was too pleased to speak。 She only took hold
of his hand as tight as if she had been afraid of his running
away instead of glad that he would not leave her。
Now； although they did not know it； the owner of the stables；
the same man who had sold the horse to his father； had been standing
just inside one of the stable…doors； with his hands in his pockets；
and had heard and seen all that passed； and from that day John
Stonecrop took a great fancy to the little boy。 And this was the
beginning of what came of it。
The same evening； just as Diamond was feeling tired of the day's work；
and wishing his father would come home； Mr。 Stonecrop knocked
at the door。 His mother went and opened it。
〃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 nu