"I don't know that I couldn't. That is, if you can show good reason for
it."

"He's a good boy, sir."

"Well, so much the better for him."

"I know he can shine boots, sir."

"So much the better for us."

"You want your boots shined in the country--don't you, sir?"

"Yes, to be sure."

"It wouldn't be nice to walk over the flowers with dirty boots--would
it, sir?"

"No, indeed."

"They wouldn't like it--would they?"

"No, they wouldn't."

"Then Nanny would be better pleased to go, sir."

"If the flowers didn't like dirty boots to walk over them, Nanny
wouldn't mind going to the country? Is that it? I don't quite see it."

"No, sir; I didn't mean that. I meant, if you would take Jim with you to
clean your boots, and do odd jobs, you know, sir, then Nanny would like
it better. She's so fond of Jim!"

"Now you come to the point, Diamond. I see what you mean, exactly. I
will turn it over in my mind. Could you bring Jim to see me?"

"I'll try, sir. But they don't mind me much. They think I'm silly,"
added Diamond, with one of his sweetest smiles.

What Mr. Raymond thought, I dare hardly attempt to put down here. But
one part of it was, that the highest wisdom must ever appear folly to
those who do not possess it.

"I think he would come though--after dark, you know," Diamond continued.
"He does well at shining boots. People's kind to lame boys, you know,
sir. But after dark, there ain't so much doing."

Diamond succeeded in bringing Jim to Mr. Raymond, and the consequence
was that he resolved to give the boy a chance. He provided new clothes
for both him and Nanny; and upon a certain day, Joseph took his wife and
three children, and Nanny and Jim, by train to a certain station in the
county of Kent, where they found a cart waiting to carry them and their
luggage to The Mound, which was the name of Mr. Raymond's new residence.
I will not describe the varied feelings of the party as they went, or
when they arrived. All I will say is, that Diamond, who is my only care,
was full of quiet delight--a gladness too deep to talk about.

Joseph returned to town the same night, and the next morning drove Ruby
and Diamond down, with the carriage behind them, and Mr. Raymond and a
lady in the carriage. For Mr. Raymond was an old bachelor no longer: he
was bringing his wife with him to live at The Mound. The moment Nanny
saw her, she recognised her as the lady who had lent her the ruby-ring.
That ring had been g