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Jim had moved his quarters; and had not heard of Nanny's illness till

some time after she was taken to the hospital; where he was too shy

to go and inquire about her。  But when at length she went to live

with Diamond's family; Jim was willing enough to go and see her。 

It was after one of his visits; during which they had been talking

of her new prospects; that Nanny expressed to Diamond her opinion of

the country。



〃There ain't nothing in it but the sun and moon; Diamond。〃



〃There's trees and flowers;〃 said Diamond。



〃Well; they ain't no count;〃 returned Nanny。



〃Ain't they?  They're so beautiful; they make you happy to look

at them。〃



〃That's because you're such a silly。〃



Diamond smiled with a far…away look; as if he were gazing

through clouds of green leaves and the vision contented him。 

But he was thinking with himself what more he could do for Nanny;

and that same evening he went to find Mr。 Raymond; for he had heard

that he had returned to town。



〃Ah! how do you do; Diamond?〃 said Mr。 Raymond; 〃I am glad to see you。〃



And he was indeed; for he had grown very fond of him。  His opinion

of him was very different from Nanny's。



〃What do you want now; my child?〃 he asked。



〃I'm always wanting something; sir;〃 answered Diamond。



〃Well; that's quite right; so long as what you want is right。 

Everybody is always wanting something; only we don't mention it in

the right place often enough。  What is it now?〃



〃There's a friend of Nanny's; a lame boy; called Jim。〃



〃I've heard of him;〃 said Mr。 Raymond。  〃Well?〃



〃Nanny doesn't care much about going to the country; sir。〃



〃Well; what has that to do with Jim?〃



〃You couldn't find a corner for Jim to work incould you; sir?〃



〃I don't know that I couldn't。 That is; if you can show good reason

for it。〃



〃He's a good boy; sir。〃



〃Well; so much the better for him。〃



〃I know he can shine boots; sir。〃



〃So much the better for us。〃



〃You want your boots shined in the countrydon't you; sir?〃



〃Yes; to be sure。〃



〃It wouldn't be nice to walk over the flowers with dirty boots

would it; sir?〃



〃No; indeed。〃



〃They wouldn't like itwould they?〃



〃No; they wouldn't。〃



〃Then Nanny would be better pleased to go; sir。〃



〃If the flowers didn't like dirty boots to walk over them;

Nanny wouldn't mind going to the country?  Is that it?  I don't

quite see it。〃



〃No; sir; I didn't mean that。  I meant; if you would take Jim with

you to clean your boots; and do odd jobs; you know; sir; then Nanny

would like it better。  She's so fond of Jim!〃



〃Now you come to the point; Diamond。  I see what you mean; exactly。 

I will turn it over in my mind。  Could you bring Jim to see me?〃



〃I'll try; sir。  But they don't mind me much。  They think I'm silly;〃

added Diamond; with one of his sweetest smiles。



What Mr。 Raymond thought; I dare hardly attempt to put down here。 

But one part of it was; that the highest wisdom must ever appear folly

to those who do not possess it。



〃I think he would come thoughafter dark; you know;〃 Diamond continued。 

〃He does well at shining boots。  People's kind to lame boys;

you know; sir。  But after dark; there ain't so much doing。〃



Diamond succeeded in bringing Jim to Mr。 Raymond; and the consequence

was that he resolved to give the boy a chance。  He provided

new clothes for both him and Nanny; and upon a certain day;

Joseph took his wife and three children; and Nanny and Jim;

by train to a certain station in the county of Kent; where they

found a cart waiting to carry them and their luggage to The Mound;

which was the name of Mr。 Raymond's new residence。  I will not

describe the varied feelings of the party as they went; or when

they arrived。  All I will say is; that Diamond; who is my only care;

was full of quiet delighta gladness too deep to talk about。



Joseph returned to town the same night; and the next morning drove

Ruby and Diamond down; with the carriage behind them; and Mr。 Raymond

and a lady in the carriage。  For Mr。 Raymond was an old bachelor

no longer:  he was bringing his wife with him to live at The Mound。 

The moment Nanny saw her; she recognised her as the lady who had lent

her the ruby…ring。 That ring had been given her by Mr。 Raymond。



The weather was very hot; and the woods very shadowy。  There were not

a great many wild flowers; for it was getting well towards autumn;

and the most of the wild flowers rise early to be before the leaves;

because if they did not; they would never get a glimpse of the sun

for them。  So they have their fun over; and are ready to go to bed

again by the time the trees are dressed。  But there was plenty of

the loveliest grass and daisies about the house; and Diamond's chief

pleasure seemed to be to lie amongst them; and breathe the pure air。 

But all the time; he was dreaming of the country at the back of the

north wind; and trying to recall the songs the river used to sing。 

For this was more like being at the back of the north wind than

anything he had known since he left it。  Sometimes he would have

his little brother; sometimes his little sister; and sometimes

both of them in the grass with him; and then he felt just like

a cat with her first kittens; he said; only he couldn't purr

all he could do was to sing。



These were very different times from those when he used to drive

the cab; but you must not suppose that Diamond was idle。 

He did not do so much for his mother now; because Nanny occupied

his former place; but he helped his father still; both in the stable

and the harness…room; and generally went with him on the box that he

might learn to drive a pair; and be ready to open the carriage…door。

Mr。 Raymond advised his father to give him plenty of liberty。



〃A boy like that;〃 he said; 〃ought not to be pushed。〃



Joseph assented heartily; smiling to himself at the idea of

pushing Diamond。  After doing everything that fell to his share;

the boy had a wealth of time at his disposal。  And a happy;

sometimes a merry time it was。  Only for two months or so;

he neither saw nor heard anything of North Wind。







CHAPTER XXXV



I MAKE DIAMOND'S ACQUAINTANCE





MR。  RAYMOND'S house was called The Mound; because it stood upon

a little steep knoll; so smooth and symmetrical that it showed

itself at once to be artificial。  It had; beyond doubt; been built

for Queen Elizabeth as a hunting towera place; namely; from the

top of which you could see the country for miles on all sides;

and so be able to follow with your eyes the flying deer and the

pursuing hounds and horsemen。  The mound had been cast up to give

a good basement…advantage over the neighbouring heights and woods。 

There was a great quarry…hole not far off; brim…full of water;

from which; as the current legend stated; the materials forming

the heart of the mounda kind of stone unfit for building

had been dug。  The house itself was of brick; and they said the

foundations were first laid in the natural level; and then the

stones and earth of the mound were heaped about and between them;

so that its great height should be well buttressed。



Joseph and his wife lived in a little cottage a short way from the house。 

It was a real cottage; with a roof of thick thatch; which; in June

and July; the wind sprinkled with the red and white petals it shook

from the loose topmost sprays of the rose…trees climbing the walls。 

At first Diamond had a nest under this thatcha pretty little room

with white muslin curtains; but afterwards Mr。 and Mrs。 Raymond

wanted to have him for a page in the house; and his father and mother

were quite pleased to have him employed without his leaving them。 

So he was dressed in a suit of blue; from which his pale face

and fair hair came out like the loveliest blossom; and took up his

abode in the house。



〃Would you be afraid to sleep alone; Diamond?〃 asked his mistress。



〃I don't know what you mean; ma'am;〃 said Diamond。  〃I never was

afraid of anything that I can recollectnot much; at least。〃



〃There's a little room at the top of the houseall alone;〃

she returned; 〃perhaps you would not mind sleeping there?〃



〃I can sleep anywhere; and I like best to be high up。  Should I

be able to see out?〃



〃I will show you the place;〃 she answered; and taking him by the hand;

she led him up and up the oval…winding stair in one of the two towers。



Near the top they entered a tiny little room; with two windows

from which you could see over the whole country。  Diamond clapped

his hands with delight。



〃You would like this room; then; Diamond?〃 said his mistress。



〃It's the grandest room in the house;〃 he answered。  〃I shall

be near the stars; and yet not far from the tops of the trees。 

That's just what I like。〃



I daresay he thought; also; that it would be a nice place for North

Wind to call at 

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