But the boys proceeded to rougher measures, and one of them hit Diamond on the nose, and made it bleed; and as he could not let go the broom to mind his nose, he was soon a dreadful figure.
But presently his father came back, and missing Diamond, looked about.
He had to look twice, however, before he could be sure that that was his boy in the middle of the tumult. He rushed in, and sent the assailants flying in all directions. The girl thanked Diamond, and began sweeping as if nothing had happened, while his father led him away. With the help of old Tom, the waterman, he was soon washed into decency, and his father set him on the box again, perfectly satisfied with the account he gave of the cause of his being in a fray.
"I couldn't let them behave so to a poor girl--could I, father?"he said.
"Certainly not, Diamond," said his father, quite pleased, for Diamond's father was a gentleman.
A moment after, up came the girl, running, with her broom over her shoulder, and calling, "Cab, there! cab!"Diamond's father turned instantly, for he was the foremost in the rank, and followed the girl. One or two other passing cabs heard the cry, and made for the place, but the girl had taken care not to call till she was near enough to give her friends the first chance.
When they reached the curbstone--who should it be waiting for the cab but Mrs. and Miss Coleman! They did not look at the cabman, however.
The girl opened the door for them; they gave her the address, and a penny; she told the cabman, and away they drove.
When they reached the house, Diamond's father got down and rang the bell. As he opened the door of the cab, he touched his hat as he had been wont to do. The ladies both stared for a moment, and then exclaimed together:
"Why, Joseph! can it be you?"
"Yes, ma'am; yes, miss," answered he, again touching his hat, with all the respect he could possibly put into the action.
"It's a lucky day which I see you once more upon it.""Who would have thought it?" said Mrs. Coleman. "It's changed times for both of us, Joseph, and it's not very often we can have a cab even; but you see my daughter is still very poorly, and she can't bear the motion of the omnibuses. Indeed we meant to walk a bit first before we took a cab, but just at the corner, for as hot as the sun was, a cold wind came down the street, and I saw that Miss Coleman must not face it. But to think we should have fallen upon you, of all the cabmen in London!
I didn't know you had got a cab."
"Well, you see, ma'am, I had a chance of buying the old horse, and I couldn't resist him. There he is, looking at you, ma'am. Nobody knows the sense in that head of his."The two ladies went near to pat the horse, and then they noticed Diamond on the box.
"Why, you've got both Diamonds with you," said Miss Coleman.
"How do you do, Diamond?"
Diamond lifted his cap, and answered politely.
"He'll be fit to drive himself before long," said his father, proudly. "The old horse is a-teaching of him.""Well, he must come and see us, now you've found us out.
Where do you live?"
Diamond's father gave the ladies a ticket with his name and address printed on it; and then Mrs. Coleman took out her purse, saying:
"And what's your fare, Joseph?"
