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"Well, there's Mr. and Mrs.Coleman, and Miss Coleman and Mrs.Crump. and that clergman who spoke to me one day when the wind had blown down a tree in the Colemans's yard."

"I don't know," said Diamond.

His father laughed again. "Why, Diamond, you're just counting everybody you know. That doesn't make them friends."

"And how will that be?"

"Well, they can't help themselves, you know, if I choose to be their friend. Oh yes, then there's that girl, Nanny. Surely she's a friend, anyhow. If it weren't for her, you'd never have got Mrs. and Miss Coleman to ride in our cab."

His father looked at him for a while. "A fine set of friends you do have, to be sure, Diamond," he said. He was not laughing now, not even smiling.

"Oh yes," said Diamond happily. "Then there's that new gentleman, Mr. Raymond."

"Yes, if he does what he says," says his father.

Now Diamond looked puzzled. "Why shouldn't he?" he asked. "I bet sixpence isn't too much for him to spare, Father. But I don't understand. Is nobody my friend except that one that does something for me?"

"No, I guess I wouldn't say that, my boy," said his father. "You'd have to leave out baby then."

"Oh no, I wouldn't! Baby can laugh in your face, and crow in your ears, and make you feel so happy. You wouldn't call that nothing, would you, Father?"

His father looked down at his hands on his knees. Slowly he took his reins, gave them a little twitch, and the cab started rolling. It was early evening and the sun was orange and low, just peering over the houses along the streets. Time to start home.

"And there's the best of mine to come, and that's you, Father," Diamond said. "and Mother too. You're my friend, Father, aren't you? And I'm your friend, aren't I?"

His father looked at little Diamond's face staring up at him. "And God for us all," his father said softly. His voice broke a little on the last wird. He looked ahead again, staring at old Diamond's broad back as the horse clopped lazily down the street.

The old horse knew his way home so well that he didn't have to be led at all. And that was a good thing, because tonight his driver wasn't driving. He just sat on the box, a tear in his eye, his hands slack on the reins, and his thoughts far, far away.