“Well, my little man, and what can you do?” asked the gentleman, turning towards him—just for the sake of saying something.
“Drive a cab,” said Diamond.
“Good; and what else?” he continued; for, accepting what the girl had said, he regarded the still sweetness of Diamond's face as a sign of silliness, and wished to be kind to the poor little fellow.
“Nurse a baby,” said Diamond.
“Well—and what else?”
“Clean father's boots, and make him a bit of toast for his tea.”
“You're a useful little man,” said the gentleman. “What else can you do?”
“Not much that I know of,” said Diamond. “I can't curry a horse, except somebody puts me on his back. So I don't count that.”
“Can you read?”
“No. But mother can and father can, and they're going to teach me some day soon.”