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〃Indeed I don't。〃
〃I know you don't。 An ignorant； rude old human horse； like you；
couldn't know it。 But there's young Diamond listening to all
we're saying； and he knows well enough there are horses in heaven
for angels to ride upon； as well as other animals； lions and eagles
and bulls； in more important situations。 The horses the angels ride；
must be angel…horses； else the angels couldn't ride upon them。
Well； I'm one of them。〃
〃You ain't。〃
〃Did you ever know a horse tell a lie？〃
〃Never before。 But you've confessed to shamming lame。〃
〃Nothing of the sort。 It was necessary I should grow fat；
and necessary that good Joseph； your master； should grow lean。
I could have pretended to be lame； but that no horse； least of all an
angel…horse would do。 So I must be lame； and so I sprained my ankle
for the angel…horses have anklesthey don't talk horse…slang up there
and it hurt me very much； I assure you； Diamond； though you mayn't
be good enough to be able to believe it。〃
Old Diamond made no reply。 He had lain down again； and a sleepy snort；
very like a snore； revealed that； if he was not already asleep；
he was past understanding a word that Ruby was saying。 When young
Diamond found this； he thought he might venture to take up the dropt
shuttlecock of the conversation。
〃I'm good enough to believe it； Ruby；〃 he said。
But Ruby never turned his head； or took any notice of him。
I suppose he did not understand more of English than just what
the coachman and stableman were in the habit of addressing
him with。 Finding； however； that his companion made no reply；
he shot his head over the partition and looking down at him said
〃You just wait till to…morrow； and you'll see whether I'm speaking
the truth or not。I declare the old horse is fast asleep！
Diamond！No I won't。〃
Ruby turned away； and began pulling at his hayrack in silence。
Diamond gave a shiver； and looking round saw that the door of the
stable was open。 He began to feel as if he had been dreaming；
and after a glance about the stable to see if North Wind was
anywhere visible； he thought he had better go back to bed。
CHAPTER XXXIII
THE PROSPECT BRIGHTENS
THE next morning； Diamond's mother said to his father； 〃I'm not
quite comfortable about that child again。〃
〃Which child； Martha？〃 asked Joseph。 〃You've got a choice now。〃
〃Well； Diamond I mean。 I'm afraid he's getting into his queer
ways again。 He's been at his old trick of walking in his sleep。
I saw him run up the stair in the middle of the night。〃
〃Didn't you go after him； wife？〃
〃Of course I didand found him fast asleep in his bed。 It's because
he's had so little meat for the last six weeks； I'm afraid。〃
〃It may be that。 I'm very sorry。 But if it don't please God
to send us enough； what am I to do； wife？〃
〃You can't help it； I know； my dear good man；〃 returned Martha。
〃And after all I don't know。 I don't see why he shouldn't get on
as well as the rest of us。 There I'm nursing baby all this time；
and I get along pretty well。 I'm sure； to hear the little man singing；
you wouldn't think there was much amiss with him。〃
For at that moment Diamond was singing like a lark in the clouds。
He had the new baby in his arms； while his mother was dressing herself。
Joseph was sitting at his breakfasta little weak tea； dry bread；
and very dubious butterwhich Nanny had set for him； and which he
was enjoying because he was hungry。 He had groomed both horses；
and had got old Diamond harnessed ready to put to。
〃Think of a fat angel； Dulcimer！〃 said Diamond。
The baby had not been christened yet； but Diamond； in reading
his Bible； had come upon the word dulcimer； and thought it so pretty
that ever after he called his sister Dulcimer！
〃Think of a red； fat angel； Dulcimer！〃 he repeated； 〃for Ruby's
an angel of a horse； Dulcimer。 He sprained his ankle and got fat
on purpose。〃
〃What purpose； Diamond？〃 asked his father。
〃Ah！ that I can't tell。 I suppose to look handsome when his
master comes；〃 answered Diamond。〃What do you think； Dulcimer？
It must be for some good； for Ruby's an angel。〃
〃I wish I were rid of him； anyhow；〃 said his father； 〃for he weighs
heavy on my mind。〃
〃No wonder； father： he's so fat；〃 said Diamond。 〃But you needn't
be afraid； for everybody says he's in better condition than when you
had him。〃
〃Yes； but he may be as thin as a tin horse before his owner comes。
It was too bad to leave him on my hands this way。〃
〃Perhaps he couldn't help it；〃 suggested Diamond。 〃I daresay he
has some good reason for it。〃
〃So I should have said；〃 returned his father； 〃if he had not driven
such a hard bargain with me at first。〃
〃But we don't know what may come of it yet； husband；〃 said his wife。
〃Mr。 Raymond may give a little to boot； seeing you've had more of
the bargain than you wanted or reckoned upon。〃
〃I'm afraid not： he's a hard man；〃 said Joseph； as he rose and went
to get his cab out。
Diamond resumed his singing。 For some time he carolled snatches
of everything or anything； but at last it settled down into something
like what follows。 I cannot tell where or how he got it。
Where did you come from； baby dear？
Out of the everywhere into here。
Where did you get your eyes so blue？
Out of the sky as I came through。
What makes the light in them sparkle and spin？
Some of the starry spikes left in。
Where did you get that little tear？
I found it waiting when I got here。
What makes your forehead so smooth and high？
A soft hand stroked it as I went by。
What makes your cheek like a warm white rose？
I saw something better than any one knows。
Whence that three…cornered smile of bliss？
Three angels gave me at once a kiss。
Where did you get this pearly ear？
God spoke； and it came out to hear。
Where did you get those arms and hands？
Love made itself into hooks and bands。
Feet； whence did you come； you darling things？
From the same box as the cherubs' wings。
How did they all just come to be you？
God thought about me； and so I grew。
But how did you come to us； you dear？
God thought about you； and so I am here。
〃You never made that song； Diamond；〃 said his mother。
〃No； mother。 I wish I had。 No； I don't。 That would be to take it
from somebody else。 But it's mine for all that。〃
〃What makes it yours？〃
〃I love it so。〃
〃Does loving a thing make it yours？〃
〃I think so； motherat least more than anything else can。 If I didn't
love baby （which couldn't be； you know） she wouldn't b