Chapter XXV. Diamond's Dream

           “THERE,baby!”saidDiamond;“I’msohappythatIcanonlysingnonsense.Oh,father,thinkifyouhadbeenapoorman,andhadn’thadacabandoldDiamond!WhatshouldIhavedone?”

           “Idon’tknowindeedwhatyoucouldhavedone,”saidhisfatherfromthebed.

           “Weshouldhaveallstarved,mypreciousDiamond,”saidhismother,whoseprideinherboywasevengreaterthanherjoyintheshillings.Bothofthemtogethermadeherheartache,forpleasurecandothataswellaspain.

           “Ohno!weshouldn’t,”saidDiamond.“IcouldhavetakenNanny’scrossingtillshecameback;andthenthemoney,insteadofgoingforOldSal’sgin,wouldhavegoneforfather’sbeef-tea.IwonderwhatNannywilldowhenshegetswellagain.Somebodyelsewillbesuretohavetakenthecrossingbythattime.Iwonderifshewillfightforit,andwhetherIshallhavetohelpher.Iwon’tbothermyheadaboutthat.Timeenoughyet!Heydiddle!heydiddle!heydiddlediddle!IwonderwhetherMr.RaymondwouldtakemetoseeNanny.Heydiddle!heydiddle!heydiddlediddle!Thebabyandfiddle!O,mother,I’msuchasilly!ButIcan’thelpit.IwishIcouldthinkofsomethingelse,butthere’snothingwillcomeintomyheadbutheydiddlediddle!thecatandthefiddle!Iwonderwhattheangelsdo—whenthey’reextrahappy,youknow—whenthey’vebeendrivingcabsalldayandtakinghomethemoneytotheirmothers.Doyouthinktheyeversingnonsense,mother?”

           “Idaresaythey’vegottheirownsortofit,”answeredhismother,“elsetheywouldn’tbelikeotherpeople.