o go into the country at the shortest notice. They
were now so peaceful, and so happy over the prospect that they believed
it worth all the trouble and worry they had gone through.

Nanny had been so happy since she left the hospital and had been living
with Diamond's family that she did not think the country would make her
any happier. Besides she would have to leave cripple Jim behind and
maybe never see him again. She had known cripple Jim much longer than
she had known Diamond and he had no one else to care about him.

Diamond had taken a great deal of time and trouble to find Jim. For Jim
had moved his home and had not heard of Nanny's illness till long after
she was taken to the hospital. He was much too shy to go and inquire
about her there. But when at length she went to live with Diamond's
family, Jim was willing enough to go and see her. It was after one of
his visits during which he and Nanny had talked things over that Diamond
found out that Nanny thought it would not be so very pleasant to go to
the country. The sun and the moon and the trees and the flowers did not
seem much to Nanny without Jim.

Diamond thought it over and that same night he went to see Mr. Raymond.
He wanted to tell him about Jim and Nanny and ask him what they could do
about it. "Jim can shine shoes very well indeed, sir," said Diamond. "If
you could take Jim into the country too, to clean your shoes and do
other odd jobs, then Nanny would like it better. She is so fond of Jim."

Mr. Raymond thought it all over and finally decided that there would be
something for Jim to do.

So on a certain day, Diamond's father took his mother and Diamond
himself and his little brother and sister and Nanny and Jim down by
train to a place called "The Mound," where Mr. Raymond was to live. He
went back to London that same night. The next day, he drove Ruby and
Diamond down with the carriage behind them, and Mr. Raymond and a lady
in the carriage. For Mr. Raymond was now married. And the moment Nanny
saw Mrs. Raymond, she recognized her as the lady who had let her wear
the beautiful ruby ring when she was ill in the hospital.

The weather was very hot at first, and the woods very shadowy, and the
wild flowers mainly gone. But there were plenty of the loveliest grass
and daisies about the house. Diamond's chief pleasure seemed to be to
lie among them and breathe the pure air. As he lay there, he dreamed
often of the country at the back of the north