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.
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