How do you feel yourself, Diamond, my boy ?" "Quite well, thank you, father; at least, I think I've got a little headache." "There! I told you," said his father and mother both at once.
"The child's very poorly" added his mother.
"The child's quite well," added his father.
And then they both laughed.
"You see," said his mother, "I've had a letter from my sister at Sandwich." "Sleepy old hole!" said his father.
"Don't abuse the place; there's good people in it," said his mother.
"Right, old lady," returned his father; "only I don't believe there are more than two pair of carriage-horses in the whole blessed place." "Well, people can get to heaven without carriages--or coachmen either, husband.

Not that I should like to go without my coachman, you know.

But about the boy ?" "What boy ?" "That boy, there, staring at you with his goggle-eyes." "Have I got goggle-eyes, mother ?" asked Diamond, a little dismayed.
"Not too goggle," said his mother, who was quite proud of her boy's eyes, only did not want to make him vain.
"Not too goggle; only you need not stare so." "Well, what about him ?" said his father.
"I told you I had got a letter." "Yes, from your sister; not from Diamond." "La, husband! you've got out of bed the wrong leg first this morning, I do believe." "I always get out with both at once," said his father, laughing.
"Well, listen then.

His aunt wants the boy to go down and see her." "And that's why you want to make out that he ain't looking well." "No more he is.

I think he had better go." "Well, I don't care, if you can find the money," said his father.
"I'll manage that," said his mother; and so it was agreed that Diamond should go to Sandwich.
I will not describe the preparations Diamond made.