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full of fear for the princess； and wondering how her attendants
could take it so quietly； he bethought himself that it would not
be a bad plan to light a fire； which； if she were anywhere near；
would attract her。 This he managed with a tinder…box； which the
good fairy had given him。 It was just beginning to blaze up；
when he heard a moan； which seemed to come from the other side of
the tree。 He sprung to his feet； but his heart throbbed so that he
had to lean for a moment against the tree before he could move。
When he got round； there lay a human form in a little dark heap
on the earth。 There was light enough from his fire to show that it
was not the princess。 He lifted it in his arms； hardly heavier
than a child； and carried it to the flame。 The countenance
was that of an old woman； but it had a fearfully strange look。
A black hood concealed her hair； and her eyes were closed。
He laid her down as comfortably as he could； chafed her hands；
put a little cordial from a bottle； also the gift of the fairy；
into her mouth； took off his coat and wrapped it about her；
and in short did the best he could。 In a little while she opened
her eyes and looked at himso pitifully！ The tears rose and
flowed from her grey wrinkled cheeks； but she said never a word。
She closed her eyes again； but the tears kept on flowing； and her
whole appearance was so utterly pitiful that the prince was near
crying too。 He begged her to tell him what was the matter；
promising to do all he could to help her； but still she did not speak。
He thought she was dying； and took her in his arms again to carry
her to the princess's house； where he thought the good…natured
cook might he able to do something for her。 When he lifted her；
the tears flowed yet faster； and she gave such a sad moan that it
went to his very heart。
〃Mother； mother！〃 he said。 〃Poor mother！〃 and kissed her on
the withered lips。
She started； and what eyes they were that opened upon him！
But he did not see them； for it was still very dark； and he had
enough to do to make his way through the trees towards the house。
Just as he approached the door； feeling more tired than he could
have imagined possibleshe was such a little thin old thing
she began to move； and became so restless that； unable to carry her
a moment longer； he thought to lay her on the grass。 But she stood
upright on her feet。 Her hood had dropped； and her hair fell about her。
The first gleam of the morning was caught on her face： that face
was bright as the never…aging Dawn； and her eyes were lovely as the
sky of darkest blue。 The prince recoiled in overmastering wonder。
It was Daylight herself whom he had brought from the forest！
He fell at her feet； nor dared to look up until she laid her hand
upon his head。 He rose then。
〃You kissed me when I was an old woman： there！ I kiss you when I
am a young princess；〃 murmured Daylight。〃Is that the sun coming？〃
CHAPTER XXIX
RUBY
THE children were delighted with the story； and made many amusing
remarks upon it。 Mr。 Raymond promised to search his brain for another；
and when he had found one to bring it to them。 Diamond having
taken leave of Nanny； and promised to go and see her again soon；
went away with him。
Now Mr。 Raymond had been turning over in his mind what he could do both
for Diamond and for Nanny。 He had therefore made some acquaintance
with Diamond's father； and had been greatly pleased with him。
But he had come to the resolution； before he did anything so good
as he would like to do for them； to put them all to a certain test。
So as they walked away together； he began to talk with Diamond
as follows：
〃Nanny must leave the hospital soon； Diamond。〃
〃I'm glad of that； sir。〃
〃Why？ Don't you think it's a nice place？〃
〃Yes； very。 But it's better to be well and doing something； you know；
even if it's not quite so comfortable。〃
〃But they can't keep Nanny so long as they would like。 They can't
keep her till she's quite strong。 There are always so many sick
children they want to take in and make better。 And the question is；
What will she do when they send her out again？〃
〃That's just what I can't tell； though I've been thinking of it
over and over； sir。 Her crossing was taken long ago； and I couldn't
bear to see Nanny fighting for it； especially with such a poor
fellow as has taken it。 He's quite lame； sir。〃
〃She doesn't look much like fighting； now； does she； Diamond？〃
〃No； sir。 She looks too like an angel。 Angels don't fight
do they； sir？〃
〃Not to get things for themselves； at least；〃 said Mr。 Raymond。
〃Besides；〃 added Diamond； 〃I don't quite see that she would have
any better right to the crossing than the boy who has got it。
Nobody gave it to her； she only took it。 And now he has taken it。〃
〃If she were to sweep a crossingsoon at leastafter the illness
she has had； she would be laid up again the very first wet day；〃
said Mr。 Raymond。
〃And there's hardly any money to be got except on the wet days；〃
remarked Diamond reflectively。 〃Is there nothing else she
could do； sir？〃
〃Not without being taught； I'm afraid。〃
〃Well； couldn't somebody teach her something？〃
〃Couldn't you teach her； Diamond？〃
〃I don't know anything myself； sir。 I could teach her to dress the；
baby； but nobody would give her anything for doing things like that：
they are so easy。 There wouldn't be much good in teaching
her to drive a cab； for where would she get the cab to drive？
There ain't fathers and old Diamonds everywhere。 At least poor
Nanny can't find any of them； I doubt。〃
〃Perhaps if she were taught to be nice and clean； and only speak
gentle words〃
〃Mother could teach her that；〃 interrupted Diamond。
〃And to dress babies； and feed them； and take care of them；〃
Mr。 Raymond proceeded； 〃she might get a place as a nurse somewhere；
you know。 People do give money for that。〃
〃Then I'll ask mother；〃 said Diamond。
〃But you'll have to give her her food then； and your father；
not being strong； has enough to do already without that。〃
〃But here's me；〃 said Diamond： 〃I help him out with it。 When he's tired
of driving； up I get。 It don't make any difference to old Diamond。
I don't mean he likes me as well as my fatherof course he can't；
you knownobody could； but he does his duty all the same。
It's got to be done； you know； sir； and Diamond's a good horse
isn't he； sir？〃
〃From your description I should say certainly； but I have not
the pleasure of his acquaintance myself。〃
〃Don't you think he will go to heaven； sir？〃
〃That I don't know anything about；〃 said Mr。 Raymond。 〃I confess
I should be glad to think so；〃 he added； smiling thoughtfully。
〃I'm sure he'll get to the back of the north wind； anyhow；〃
said Diamond to himself； but he had learned to be very careful
of saying such things aloud。