That's what
my daddy says, baby. And he says, too, the only way to make the
devil come out is to give him plenty of cold water and tea and
coffee, and nothing at all that comes from the public-house; for
the devil can't abide that kind of stuff, and creeps out pretty
soon, for fear of being drowned in it. But your daddy will drink
the nasty stuff, poor man! I wish he wouldn't, for it makes
mammy cross with him, and no wonder! and then when mammy's
cross, he's crosser, and there's nobody in the house to take
care of them but baby; and you do take care of them, baby --
don't you, baby? I know you do. Babies always take care of their
fathers and mothers -- don't they, baby? That's what they come
for -- isn't it, baby? And when daddy stops drinking beer and
nasty gin with turpentine in it, father says, then mammy will be
so happy, and look so pretty! and daddy will be so good to baby!
and baby will be as happy as a swallow, which is the merriest
fellow! And Diamond will be so happy too! And when Diamond's a
man, he'll take baby out with him on the box, and teach him to
drive a cab."
He went on with chatter like this till baby was asleep, by
which time he was tired, and father and mother were both wide
awake -- only rather confused -- the one from the beer, the
other from the blow -- and staring, the one from his chair, the
other from her bed, at Diamond.
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