When his father came home to have his dinner, and change Diamond for Ruby, they saw him look very sad, and he told them he had not had a fare worth mentioning the whole morning.
“We shall all have to go to the workhouse, wife,” he said.
“It would be better to go to the back of the north wind,” said Diamond, dreamily, not intending to say it aloud.
“So it would,” answered his father. “But how are we to get there, Diamond?”
“We must wait till we're taken,” returned Diamond.
Before his father could speak again, a knock came to the door, and in walked Mr. Raymond with a smile on his face. Joseph got up and received him respectfully, but not very cordially. Martha set a chair for him, but he would not sit down.
“You are not very glad to see me,” he said to Joseph. “You don't want to part with the old horse.”
“Indeed, sir, you are mistaken there. What with anxiety about him, and bad luck, I've wished I were rid of him a thousand times. It was only to be for three months, and here it's eight or nine.”
“I'm sorry to hear such a statement,” said Mr. Raymond. “Hasn't he been of service to you?”
“Not much, not with his lameness”