ight long, but go to sleep on their four pins, like a
haystack, father says. I think it's very stupid of them, and so does old
Diamond. But then I suppose they don't know better, and so they can't
help it. We mustn't be too hard upon them, father says."

"Your father must be a good man, Diamond." Diamond looked up in Mr.
Raymond's face, wondering what he could mean.

"I said your father must be a good man, Diamond."

"Of course," said Diamond. "How could he drive a cab if he wasn't?"

"There are some men who drive cabs who are not very good," objected Mr.
Raymond.

Diamond remembered the drunken cabman, and saw that his friend was
right.

"Ah, but," he returned, "he must be, you know, with such a horse as old
Diamond."

"That does make a difference," said Mr. Raymond. "But it is quite enough
that he is a good man without our trying to account for it. Now, if you
like, I will give you a proof that I think him a good man. I am going
away on the Continent for a while--for three months, I believe--and I
am going to let my house to a gentleman who does not want the use of
my brougham. My horse is nearly as old, I fancy, as your Diamond, but
I don't want to part with him, and I don't want him to be idle; for
nobody, as you say, ought to be idle; but neither do I want him to be
worked very hard. Now, it has come into my head that perhaps your father
would take charge of him, and work him under certain conditions."

"My father will do what's right," said Diamond. "I'm sure of that."

"Well, so I think. Will you ask him when he comes home to call and have
a little chat with me--to-day, some time?"

"He must have his dinner first," said Diamond. "No, he's got his dinner
with him to-day. It must be after he's had his tea."

"Of course, of course. Any time will do. I shall be at home all day."

"Very well, sir. I will tell him. You may be sure he will come. My
father thinks you a very kind gentleman, and I know he is right, for I
know your very own self, sir."

Mr. Raymond smiled, and as they had now reached his door, they parted,
and Diamond went home. As soon as his father entered the house, Diamond
gave him Mr. Raymond's message, and recounted the conversation that had
preceded it. His father said little, but took thought-sauce to his bread
and butter, and as soon as he had finished his meal, rose, saying:

"I will go to your friend directly, Diamond. It would be a grand thing
to get a little more money. We do wa