Chapter IX. How Diamond Got To The Back Of The North Wind

           WHENDiamondwenthometobreakfast,hefoundhisfatherandmotheralreadyseatedatthetable.Theywerebothbusywiththeirbreadandbutter,andDiamondsathimselfdowninhisusualplace.Hismotherlookedupathim,and,afterwatchinghimforamoment,said:

           “Idon’tthinktheboyislookingwell,husband.”

           “Don’tyou?Well,Idon’tknow.Ithinkhelooksprettybobbish.Howdoyoufeelyourself,Diamond,myboy?”

           “Quitewell,thankyou,father;atleast,IthinkI’vegotalittleheadache.”

           “There!Itoldyou,”saidhisfatherandmotherbothatonce.

           “Thechild’sverypoorly”addedhismother.

           “Thechild’squitewell,”addedhisfather.

           Andthentheybothlaughed.

           “Yousee,”saidhismother,“I’vehadaletterfrommysisteratSandwich.”

           “Sleepyoldhole!”saidhisfather.

           “Don’tabusetheplace;there’sgoodpeopleinit,”saidhismother.

           “Right,oldlady,”returnedhisfather;“onlyIdon’tbelievetherearemorethantwopairofcarriage-horsesinthewholeblessedplace.”

           “Well,peoplecangettoheavenwithoutcarriages—orcoachmeneither,husband.NotthatIshouldliketogowithoutmycoachman,youknow.Butabouttheboy?”

           “Whatboy?”

           “Thatboy,there,staringatyouwithhisgoggle-eyes.”

           “HaveIgotgoggle-eyes,mother?”askedDiamond,alittledismayed.

           “Nottoogoggle,”saidhismother,whowasquiteproudofherboy’seyes,onlydidnotwanttomakehimvain.

           “Nottoogoggle;onlyyouneednotstareso.”

           “Well,whatabouthim?”saidhisfather.

           “ItoldyouIhadgotaletter.