him neglect his work, for his work was not to dig stars but to drive
old Diamond and pick up fares. There are not many people who can
think about beautiful things and do common work at the same time.
But then there are not many people who have been to the back of the
north wind.

There was not much business doing. And Diamond felt rather cold,
notwithstanding his mother had herself put on his comforter
and helped him with his greatcoat. But he was too well aware
of his dignity to get inside his cab as some do. A cabman ought
to be above minding the weather--at least so Diamond thought.
At length he was called to a neighbouring house, where a young woman
with a heavy box had to be taken to Wapping for a coast-steamer.

He did not find it at all pleasant, so far east and so near the river;
for the roughs were in great force. However, there being no block,
not even in Nightingale Lane, he reached the entrance of the wharf,
and set down his passenger without annoyance. But as he turned
to go back, some idlers, not content with chaffing him, showed a
mind to the fare the young woman had given him. They were just
pulling him off the box, and Diamond was shouting for the police,
when a pale-faced man, in very shabby clothes, but with the look
of a gentleman somewhere about him, came up, and making good use of
his stick, drove them off.

"Now, my little man," he said, "get on while you can. Don't lose
any time. This is not a place for you."

But Diamond was not in the habit of thinking only of himself.
He saw that his new friend looked weary, if not ill, and very poor.