Chapter XXII. Mr. Raymond's Riddle

           MR.RAYMONDtookDiamondhomewithhim,stoppingattheMewstotellhismotherthathewouldsendhimbacksoon.Diamondraninwiththemessagehimself,andwhenhereappearedhehadinhishandthetornandcrumpledbookwhichNorthWindhadgivenhim.

           “Ah!Isee,”saidMr.Raymond:“youaregoingtoclaimyoursixpencenow.”

           “Iwasn’tthinkingofthatsomuchasofanotherthing,”saidDiamond.“There’sarhymeinthisbookIcan’tquiteunderstand.Iwantyoutotellmewhatitmeans,ifyouplease.”

           “IwillifIcan,”answeredMr.Raymond.“Youshallreadittomewhenwegethome,andthenIshallsee.”

           Stillwithagoodmanyblunders,Diamonddidreaditafterafashion.Mr.Raymondtookthelittlebookandreaditoveragain.

           NowMr.Raymondwasapoethimself,andso,althoughhehadneverbeenatthebackofthenorthwind,hewasabletounderstandthepoemprettywell.Butbeforesayinganythingaboutit,hereaditoveraloud,andDiamondthoughtheunderstooditmuchbetteralready.

           “I’lltellyouwhatIthinkitmeans,”hethensaid.“Itmeansthatpeoplemayhavetheirwayforawhile,iftheylike,butitwillgetthemintosuchtroublesthey’llwishtheyhadn’thadit.”

           “Iknow,Iknow!”saidDiamond.“Likethepoorcabmannextdoor.Hedrinkstoomuch.”

           “Justso,”returnedMr.Raymond.“Butwhenpeoplewanttodoright,thingsaboutthemwilltrytohelpthem.Onlytheymustkillthesnake,youknow.”

           “Iwassurethesnakehadsomethingtodowithit,”criedDiamondtriumphantly.

           Agooddealmoretalkfollowed,andMr.