my sleep, and she had come and waked me. But, Diamond, for all it was

only a dream, I cannot help being ashamed of myself yet for opening the

lady's box of bees.”

“You wouldn't do it again--would you--if she were to take you back?”

 said Diamond.

“No. I don't think anything would ever make me do it again. But where's

the good? I shall never have the chance.”

“I don't know that,” said Diamond.

“You silly baby! It was only a dream,” said Nanny.

“I know that, Nanny, dear. But how can you tell you mayn't dream it

again?”

“That's not a bit likely.”

“I don't know that,” said Diamond.

“You're always saying that,” said Nanny. “I don't like it.”

“Then I won't say it again--if I don't forget.” said Diamond. “But it

was such a beautiful dream!--wasn't it, Nanny? What a pity you opened

that door and let the bees out! You might have had such a long dream,

and such nice talks with the moon-lady. Do try to go again, Nanny. I do

so want to hear more.”

But now the nurse came and told him it was time to go; and Diamond went,

saying to himself, “I can't help thinking that North Wind had something

to do with that dream. It would be tiresome to lie there all day and all

night too--without dreaming. Perhaps if she hadn't done that, the moon

might have carried her to the back of the north wind--who knows?”

IT WAS a great delight to Diamond when at length Nanny was well enough

to leave the hospital and go home to their house. She was not very

strong yet, but Diamond's mother was very considerate of her, and took

care that she should have nothing to do she was not quite fit for. If

Nanny had been taken straight from the street, it is very probable she

would not have been so pleasant in a decent household, or so easy to

teach; but after the refining influences of her illness and the kind

treatment she had had in the hospital, she moved about the house just

like some rather sad pleasure haunting the mind. As she got better, and

the colour came back to her cheeks, her step grew lighter and quicker,

her smile shone out more readily, and it became certain that she would

soon be a treasure of help. It was great fun to see Diamond teaching

her how to hold the baby, and wash and dress him, and often they laughed

together over her awkwardness. But she had not many such lessons before

she was able to perform those duties quite as well as Diamond himself.

Things however did not go well with Joseph from the very arrival of

Ruby. It almost seemed as if the red beast had brought ill luck with

him. The fares were fewer, and the pay less. Ruby's services did indeed

make the week's income at first a little beyond what it used to be, but

then there were two more to feed. After the first month he fell lame,

and for the whole of the next Joseph dared not attempt to work him. I

cannot say that he never grumbled, for his own health was far from what

it had been; but I can say that he tried to do his best. During all

that month, they lived on very short commons indeed, seldom tasting meat

except on Sundays, and poor old Diamond, who worked hardest of all, not

even then--so that at the end of it he was as thin as a clothes-horse,

while Ruby was as plump and sleek as a bishop's cob.

Nor was it much better after Ruby was able to work again, for it was

a season of great depression in business, and that is very soon felt

amongst the cabmen. City men look more after their shillings, and their

wives and daughters have less to spend. It was besides a wet autumn, and

bread rose greatly in price. When I add to this that Diamond's mother

was but poorly, for a new baby was coming, you will see that these were

not very jolly times for our friends in the mews.

Notwithstanding the depressing influences around him, Joseph was able to

keep a little hope alive in his heart; and when he came home at night,

would get Diamond to read to him, and would also make Nanny produce her

book that he might see how she was getting on. For Diamond had taken her

education in hand, and as she was a clever child, she was very soon able

to put letters and words together.

Thus the three months passed away, but Mr. Raymond did not return.

Joseph had been looking anxiously for him, chiefly with the desire of

getting rid of Ruby--not that he was absolutely of no use to him, but

that he was a constant weight upon his mind. Indeed, as far as provision

went, he was rather worse off with Ruby and Nanny than he had been

before, but on the other hand, Nanny was a great help in the house, and

it was a comfort to him to think that when the new baby did come, Nanny

would be with his wife.

Of God's gifts a baby is of the greatest; therefore it is no wonder that

when this one came, she was as heartily welcomed by the little household

as if she had brought plenty with her. Of course she made a great

difference in the work to be done--far more difference than her size

warranted, but Nanny was no end of help, and Diamond was as much of a

sunbeam as ever, and began to sing to the new baby the first moment he

got her in his arms. But he did not sing the same songs to her that he

had sung to his brother, for, he said, she was a new baby and must have

new songs; and besides, she was a sister-baby and not a brother-baby,

and of course would not like the same kind of songs. Where the

difference in his songs lay, however, I do not pretend to be able to

point out. One thing I am sure of, that they not only had no small share

in the education of the little girl, but helped the whole family a great

deal more than they were aware.

How they managed to get through the long dreary expensive winter, I can

hardly say. Sometimes things were better, sometimes worse. But at last

the spring came, and the winter was over and gone, and that was much.

Still, Mr. Raymond did not return, and although the mother would have

been able to manage without Nanny now, they could not look for a place

for her so long as they had Ruby; and they were not altogether sorry for

this. One week at last was worse than they had yet had. They were almost

without bread before it was over. But the sadder he saw his father and

mother looking, the more Diamond set himself to sing to the two babies.

One thing which had increased their expenses was that they had been

forced to hire another little room for Nanny. When the second baby came,

Diamond gave up his room that Nanny might be at hand to help his mother,

and went to hers, which, although a fine place to what she had been

accustomed to, was not very nice in his eyes. He did not mind the change

though, for was not his mother the more comfortable for it? And was

not Nanny more comfortable too? And indeed was not Diamond himself more

comfortable that other people were more comfortable? And if there was

more comfort every way, the change was a happy one.

IT WAS Friday night, and Diamond, like the rest of the household, had

had very little to eat that day. The mother would always pay the week's

rent before she laid out anything even on food. His father had been very