“No. Very often I can't at all. Sometimes I can. I always know, but I can't always tell why. Mr. Raymond writes the stories, and then tries them on me. Mother does the same when she makes jam. She's made such a lot of jam since we came here! And she always makes me taste it to see if it'll do. Mother knows by the face I make whether it will or not.”
At this moment I caught sight of two more children approaching. One was a handsome girl, the other a pale-faced, awkward-looking boy, who limped much on one leg. I withdrew a little, to see what would follow, for they seemed in some consternation. After a few hurried words, they went off together, and I pursued my way to the house, where I was as kindly received by Mr. and Mrs. Raymond as I could have desired. From them I learned something of Diamond, and was in consequence the more glad to find him, when I returned, seated in the same place as before.
“What did the boy and girl want with you, Diamond?” I asked.
“They had seen a creature that frightened them.”
“And they came to tell you about it?”
“They couldn't get water out of the well for it. So they wanted me to go with them.”
“They're both bigger than you.”
“Yes, but they were frightened at it.”
“And weren't you frightened at it?”
“No.”