Chapter XIV. Old Diamond

           AFTERthisDiamondrecoveredsofast,thatinafewdayshewasquiteabletogohomeassoonashisfatherhadaplaceforthemtogo.Nowhisfatherhavingsavedalittlemoney,andfindingthatnosituationoffereditself,hadbeenthinkingoveranewplan.Astrangeoccurrenceitwaswhichturnedhisthoughtsinthatdirection.HehadafriendintheBloomsburyregion,wholivedbylettingoutcabsandhorsestothecabmen.Thisman,happeningtomeethimonedayashewasreturningfromanunsuccessfulapplication,saidtohim:

           “Whydon’tyousetupforyourselfnow—inthecabline,Imean?”

           “Ihaven’tenoughforthat,”answeredDiamond’sfather.

           “Youmusthavesavedagoodishbit,Ishouldthink.JustcomehomewithmenowandlookatahorseIcanletyouhavecheap.Iboughthimonlyafewweeksago,thinkinghe’ddoforaHansom,butIwaswrong.He’sgotboneenoughforawaggon,butawaggonain’taHansom.Heain’tgotgoenoughforaHansom.YouseepartiesastakesHansomswantstogolikethewind,andheain’tgotwindenough,forheain’tsoyoungasheoncewas.Butforafour-wheelerastakesfamiliesandtheirluggages,he’stheveryhorse.He’dcarryasmallhouseanyday.Iboughthimcheap,andI’llsellhimcheap.”

           “Oh,Idon’twanthim,”saidDiamond’sfather.“Abodymusthavetimetothinkoveranaffairofsomuchimportance.Andthere’sthecabtoo.Thatwouldcometoadealofmoney.”

           “Icouldfityouthere,Idaresay,”saidhisfriend.“Butcomeandlookattheanimal,anyhow.”

           “SinceIlostmyownoldpair,aswasMr.