"Perhaps so, Diamond. Yes, I think it does," said his mother. When his father came home for his dinner he looked very sad. He had not got a single fare the whole morning. "We shall just have to go to the work-house," he said and dropped into a chair in despair. Just then, came a knock at the door and in walked Mr. Raymond! Of course, he wanted to see the horses at once. And when he saw how fat Ruby was and how poor was faithful old Diamond--and when, moreover, he remembered how poor and starved the family looked though Nanny was still there and kindly treated--he knew that Diamond's father had been stanch and true to his bargain, though it had turned out to be a hard one. He was a man worth helping--that was clear! And Mr. Raymond was now ready to help him as much as he needed. He first pointed out that old Diamond needed only to be fattened up and Ruby thinned down to make of them a fine pair of horses for his country home to which he was now going. And Diamond's father should go along as coachman. There would be regular wages again and a much more comfortable home in the country. "And now, will you sell me old Diamond?" asked Mr. Raymond. "If you will, here are twenty pounds for him, if you think that is enough." "I will sell him to you, sir," answered Diamond's father, "if you promise to let me buy him back if I can, if you ever wish to sell him. I could _not_ part with him without that. Though as to who calls him his, that is nothing. For I believe it's true what my little Diamond says--that it's loving a thing that makes it yours." "You shall have that chance," said Mr. Raymond. So the bargain was made. How Diamond capered about at the thought of going to the beautiful country to live and having a yard and grass to play on! It would be like the old home at Mr. Coleman's--perhaps even nicer than that. How he danced the baby and sang to it! "And North Wind told me, Baby dear! She sang in my ears how bad things are just a chance to make good things come!" CHAPTER X DIAMOND IN HIS NEW HOME Before the end of the month, Ruby had got a great deal thinner and old Diamond a good deal fatter. They really began to look fit to go in double harness. Diamond's father and mother got their things all packed up and were ready to go into the country at the shortest notice. They were now so peaceful, and so happy over the prospect that they believed it worth all the trouble and worry they had gone through. Nanny had been so happy since she left the hospital and had been living with Diamond's family that she did not think the country would make her any happier. Besides she would have to leave cripple Jim behind and maybe never see him again. She had known cripple Jim much longer than she had known Diamond and he had no one else to care about him.