even with his head under the bed-clothes. It was a still more gentle
voice now, although six times as large and loud as it had been,
and he thought it sounded a little like his mother's.

"What is your name, little boy?" it asked.

"Diamond," answered Diamond, under the bed-clothes.

"What a funny name!"

"It's a very nice name," returned its owner.

"I don't know that," said the voice.

"Well, I do," retorted Diamond, a little rudely.

"Do you know to whom you are speaking!"

"No," said Diamond.

And indeed he did not. For to know a person's name is not always
to know the person's self.

"Then I must not be angry with you.--You had better look and see, though."

"Diamond is a very pretty name," persisted the boy, vexed that it
should not give satisfaction.

"Diamond is a useless thing rather," said the voice.