It's a good thing she's so
blind, though."
"Why?" asked Diamond.
" 'Cause if she was as sharp in the eyes as she used to be,
she would find out I never eats her broken wittles, and then
she'd know as I must get something somewheres."
"Doesn't she watch you, then?"
"O' course she do. Don't she just! But I make believe and
drop it in my lap, and then hitch it into my pocket."
"What would she do if she found you out?"
"She never give me no more."
"But you don't want it!"
"Yes, I do want it."
"What do you do with it, then?"
"Give it to cripple Jim."
"Who's cripple Jim?"
"A boy in the Row. His mother broke his leg when he wur a
kid, so he's never come to much; but he's a good boy, is Jim,
and I love Jim dearly. I always keeps off a a penny for Jim --
leastways as often as I can. -- But there I must sweep again,
for them busses makes no end o' dirt."
"Diamond! Diamond!" cried his father, who was afraid he
might get no good by talking to the girl; and Diamond obeyed,
and got up again upon the box. He told his father about the
gentleman, and what he had promised him if he would learn to
read, and showed him the gentleman's card.
"Why, it's not many doors from the Mews!" said his father,
giving him back the card.
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