“Nothing of the sort. It was necessary I should grow fat, and necessary that good Joseph, your master, should grow lean. I could have pretended to be lame, but that no horse, least of all an angel-horse would do. So I must be lame, and so I sprained my ankle--for the angel-horses have ankles--they don't talk horse-slang up there--and it hurt me very much, I assure you, Diamond, though you mayn't be good enough to be able to believe it.” Old Diamond made no reply. He had lain down again, and a sleepy snort, very like a snore, revealed that, if he was not already asleep, he was past understanding a word that Ruby was saying. When young Diamond found this, he thought he might venture to take up the dropt shuttlecock of the conversation. “I'm good enough to believe it, Ruby,” he said. But Ruby never turned his head, or took any notice of him. I suppose he did not understand more of English than just what the coachman and stableman were in the habit of addressing him with. Finding, however, that his companion made no reply, he shot his head over the partition and looking down at him said-- “You just wait till to-morrow, and you'll see whether I'm speaking the truth or not.--I declare the old horse is fast asleep!--Diamond!--No I won't.” Ruby turned away, and began pulling at his hayrack in silence. Diamond gave a shiver, and looking round saw that the door of the stable was open. He began to feel as if he had been dreaming, and after a glance about the stable to see if North Wind was anywhere visible, he thought he had better go back to bed. CHAPTER XXXIII. THE PROSPECT BRIGHTENS THE next morning, Diamond's mother said to his father, “I'm not quite comfortable about that child again.” “Which child, Martha?” asked Joseph. “You've got a choice now.” “Well, Diamond I mean. I'm afraid he's getting into his queer ways again. He's been at his old trick of walking in his sleep. I saw him run up the stair in the middle of the night.” “Didn't you go after him, wife?” “Of course I did--and found him fast asleep in his bed. It's because he's had so little meat for the last six weeks, I'm afraid.” “It may be that. I'm very sorry. But if it don't please God to send us enough, what am I to do, wife?” “You can't help it, I know, my dear good man,” returned Martha. “And after all I don't know. I don't see why he shouldn't get on as well as the rest of us. There I'm nursing baby all this time, and I get along pretty well. I'm sure, to hear the little man singing, you wouldn't think there was much amiss with him.” For at that moment Diamond was singing like a lark in the clouds. He had the new baby in his arms, while his mother was dressing herself. Joseph was sitting at his breakfast--a little weak tea, dry bread, and very dubious butter--which Nanny had set for him, and which he was enjoying because he was hungry. He had groomed both horses, and had got old Diamond harnessed ready to put to. “Think of a fat angel, Dulcimer!” said Diamond.