bad luck with him. The fares were fewer and the
pay less. Ruby's work did indeed make the week's
income at first a little more than it used to be. But
then there were two more to feed. After the first
month, however, he fell lame, and for the whole of the
next month, Diamond's father did not dare work him
at all. It cost just as much to feed him and all he did
was to stand in the stable and grow fat.

And after he got well again, it was not much
better. Times had then become hard and fewer and
fewer people felt that they could afford to ride in
cabs. The cabmen got fewer and fewer shillings to
live on. Diamond's household had less and less to
buy food and clothing with. Then too, Diamond's
mother was poorly for a new baby was coming.

Diamond's father began to feel gloomier and
gloomier and if Diamond had not made himself
remember that he had been at the back of the north
wind, he would have been gloomy himself. But when
his father came home, Diamond would get out his
book and show him how well he could read. Besides
he taught Nanny how to read and as she was a very
clever little girl, she picked it up very fast. Nanny
was such a comfort about the house that Diamond's
father just had to cheer up a little when he came
home at night and the dull day's work was over.

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