“You kissed me when I was an old woman: there! I kiss you when I am a young princess,” murmured Daylight.--“Is that the sun coming?” CHAPTER XXIX. RUBY THE children were delighted with the story, and made many amusing remarks upon it. Mr. Raymond promised to search his brain for another, and when he had found one to bring it to them. Diamond having taken leave of Nanny, and promised to go and see her again soon, went away with him. Now Mr. Raymond had been turning over in his mind what he could do both for Diamond and for Nanny. He had therefore made some acquaintance with Diamond's father, and had been greatly pleased with him. But he had come to the resolution, before he did anything so good as he would like to do for them, to put them all to a certain test. So as they walked away together, he began to talk with Diamond as follows:-- “Nanny must leave the hospital soon, Diamond.” “I'm glad of that, sir.” “Why? Don't you think it's a nice place?” “Yes, very. But it's better to be well and doing something, you know, even if it's not quite so comfortable.” “But they can't keep Nanny so long as they would like. They can't keep her till she's quite strong. There are always so many sick children they want to take in and make better. And the question is, What will she do when they send her out again?” “That's just what I can't tell, though I've been thinking of it over and over, sir. Her crossing was taken long ago, and I couldn't bear to see Nanny fighting for it, especially with such a poor fellow as has taken it. He's quite lame, sir.” “She doesn't look much like fighting, now, does she, Diamond?” “No, sir. She looks too like an angel. Angels don't fight--do they, sir?” “Not to get things for themselves, at least,” said Mr. Raymond. “Besides,” added Diamond, “I don't quite see that she would have any better right to the crossing than the boy who has got it. Nobody gave it to her; she only took it. And now he has taken it.” “If she were to sweep a crossing--soon at least--after the illness she has had, she would be laid up again the very first wet day,” said Mr. Raymond. “And there's hardly any money to be got except on the wet days,” remarked Diamond reflectively. “Is there nothing else she could do, sir?” “Not without being taught, I'm afraid.” “Well, couldn't somebody teach her something?” “Couldn't you teach her, Diamond?” “I don't know anything myself, sir. I could teach her to dress the baby; but nobody would give her anything for doing things like that: they are so easy. There wouldn't be much good in teaching her to drive a cab, for where would she get the cab to drive? There ain't fathers and old Diamonds everywhere. At least poor Nanny can't find any of them, I doubt.” “Perhaps if she were taught to be nice and clean, and only speak gentle words.” “Mother could teach her that,” interrupted Diamond.