Although she called her wicked, the child spoke so as plainly to indicate pride in her grannie's pre-eminence in swearing. The gentleman looked very grave to hear her, for he was sorry that such a nice little girl should be in such bad keeping. But he did not know what to say next, and stood for a moment with his eyes on the ground. When he lifted them, he saw the face of Diamond looking up in his. “Please, sir,” said Diamond, “her grannie's very cruel to her sometimes, and shuts her out in the streets at night, if she happens to be late.” “Is this your brother?” asked the gentleman of the girl. “No, sir.” “How does he know your grandmother, then? He does not look like one of her sort.” “Oh no, sir! He's a good boy--quite.” Here she tapped her forehead with her finger in a significant manner. “What do you mean by that?” asked the gentleman, while Diamond looked on smiling. “The cabbies call him God's baby,” she whispered. “He's not right in the head, you know. A tile loose.” Still Diamond, though he heard every word, and understood it too, kept on smiling. What could it matter what people called him, so long as he did nothing he ought not to do? And, besides, God's baby was surely the best of names! “Well, my little man, and what can you do?” asked the gentleman, turning towards him--just for the sake of saying something. “Drive a cab,” said Diamond. “Good; and what else?” he continued; for, accepting what the girl had said, he regarded the still sweetness of Diamond's face as a sign of silliness, and wished to be kind to the poor little fellow. “Nurse a baby,” said Diamond. “Well--and what else?” “Clean father's boots, and make him a bit of toast for his tea.” “You're a useful little man,” said the gentleman. “What else can you do?” “Not much that I know of,” said Diamond. “I can't curry a horse, except somebody puts me on his back. So I don't count that.” “Can you read?” “No. But mother can and father can, and they're going to teach me some day soon.” “Well, here's a penny for you.” “Thank you, sir.” “And when you have learned to read, come to me, and I'll give you sixpence and a book with fine pictures in it.” “Please, sir, where am I to come?” asked Diamond, who was too much a man of the world not to know that he must have the gentleman's address before he could go and see him. “You're no such silly!” thought he, as he put his hand in his pocket, and brought out a card. “There,” he said, “your father will be able to read that, and tell you where to go.” “Yes, sir. Thank you, sir,” said Diamond, and put the card in his pocket. The gentleman walked away, but turning round a few paces off, saw Diamond give his penny to the girl, and, walking slower heard him say: “I've got a father, and mother, and little brother, and you've got nothing but a wicked old grannie. You may have my penny.”