He was the first there after all.
As the men arrived they all greeted him kindly, and inquired after his father.
"Ain't you afraid of the old 'oss running away with you ?" asked one.
"No, he wouldn't run away with me," answered Diamond.

"He knows I'm getting the shillings for father.

Or if he did he would only run home." "Well, you're a plucky one, for all your girl's looks!" said the man; "and I wish ye luck." "Thank you, sir," said Diamond.

"I'll do what I can.

I came to the old place, you see, because I knew you would let me have my turn here." In the course of the day one man did try to cut him out, but he was a stranger; and the shout the rest of them raised let him see it would not do, and made him so far ashamed besides, that he went away crawling.
Once, in a block, a policeman came up to him, and asked him for his number.