But he was quite unaware of
their notice, for he sat half-asleep, with his eyes wide open,
staring in his turn, though without knowing it, at the cabman,
while the cabman could not withdraw his gaze from Diamond's
white face and big eyes. For Diamond's face was always rather
pale, and now it was paler than usual with sleeplessness, and
the light of the street-lamp upon it. At length he found himself
nodding, and he knew then it was time to put the baby down, lest
he should let him fall. So he rose from the little three-legged
stool, and laid the baby in the cradle, and covered him up -- it
was well it was a warm night, and he did not want much covering
-- and then he all but staggered out of the door, he was so
tipsy himself with sleep.
"Wife," said the cabman, turning towards the bed, "I do
somehow believe that wur a angel just gone. Did you see him,
wife? He warn't wery big, and he hadn't got none o' them
wingses, you know. It wur one o' them baby-angels you sees on
the gravestones, you know."
"Nonsense, hubby!" said his wife; "but it's just as good.
I might say better, for you can ketch hold of him when you like.
That's little Diamond as everybody knows, and a duck o' diamonds
he is! No woman could wish for a better child than he be.
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