It was great
fun to see Diamond teaching her how to hold the baby, and wash
and dress him, and often they laughed together over her
awkwardness. But she had not many such lessons before she was
able to perform those duties quite as well as Diamond himself.
Things however did not go well with Joseph from the very
arrival of Ruby. It almost seemed as if the red beast had
brought ill luck with him. The fares were fewer, and the pay
less. Ruby's services did indeed make the week's income at first
a little beyond what it used to be, but then there were two more
to feed. After the first month he fell lame, and for the whole
of the next Joseph dared not attempt to work him. I cannot say
that he never grumbled, for his own health was far from what it
had been; but I can say that he tried to do his best. During all
that month, they lived on very short commons indeed, seldom
tasting meat except on Sundays, and poor
old Diamond, who worked hardest of all, not even then -- so that
at the end of it he was as thin as a clothes-horse, while Ruby
was as plump and sleek as a bishop's cob.
Nor was it much better after Ruby was able to work again,
for it was a season of great depression in business, and that is
very soon felt amongst the cabmen.
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