CHAPTER XIX
DIAMOND'S FRIENDS
ONE day when old Diamond was standing with his nose in his bag
between Pall Mall and Cockspur Street, and his master was
reading the newspaper on the box of his cab, which was the last
of a good many in the row, little Diamond got down for a run,
for his legs were getting cramped with sitting. And first of all
he strolled with his hands in his pockets up to the crossing,
where the girl and her broom were to be found in all weathers.
Just as he was going to speak to her, a tall gentleman stepped
upon the crossing. He was pleased to find it so clean, for the
streets were muddy, and he had nice boots on; so he put his hand
in his pocket, and gave the girl a penny. But when she gave him
a sweet smile in return, and made him a pretty courtesy, he
looked at her again, and said:
"Where do you live, my child?"
"Paradise Row," she answered; "next door to the Adam and
Eve -- down the area."
"Whom do you live with?" he asked.
"My wicked old grannie," she replied.
"You shouldn't call your grannie wicked," said the
gentleman.
"But she is," said the girl, looking up confidently in his
face. "If you don't believe me, you can come and take a look at
her."
The words sounded rude, but the girl's face looked so
simple that the gentleman saw she did not mean to be rude, and
became still more interested in her.
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