At the Back of the North Wind

t the memory of it grew brighter and brighter until it did not look altogether like a dre

good and his mother had not saved up quite enough money to get him the new pair she so much wanted for him, she would not let him run out. But at len

t led to the stables. Above the fire in the sky, lay a large lake of green light, above that a golden cloud, and over that the blue of

is same spot on the night of his dream. So he thought he would just go in and see if things looked at all as they did then. But not a flower was to be seen in the be

or three long leaves that stood up behind the flower shook and wavered and quivered. But the primrose lay still in the green hollow, looking up at the

nd had been asleep for a little,

dow, Diamond,

had once more pasted

said Diamond. “I do

ing. Open the window for

, North Wind, where’s the use? Y

ed North Wind. “I had work to

, getting hold of the edge of it, tore it off. The next insta

uite dismayed. “I didn’t k

North

e no bigger

ee me behind the leaves of the primrose? Didn’t you see them blowing? Make haste, now, if you want to

t it!” sai

aw the gleam of something vanishing down the stair. He dressed himself as fast as ever he could and crept out in

cross the garden and with one bound was on top of the wall. Then she reac

walked beside it far before its surface was covered with ripples and the stars had vanished. North Wind was now as tall as a full-grown

to do to-night,” she said. “And disagr

nd both the front and back doors open. At the foot of the stair, North Wind stood still and Diamond, hearing a great growl, started in terror. There, instead of North

, “North Wind can’t be ea

e met him on the stair, took him by the

en a baby, North Wind!”

running on their edges all about her feet. “No, I did not eat a baby,” she said, “as you would know if you had not let go of me. I merely scared an ugly nurse who was calling a child bad

th Wind stood and turned her face toward London. The stars were stil

ain. I might have lost you the last time, only

ted itself from her head and went out in black waves. She put her hands behind her head and began weaving and knotting her hair together

of the clouds. Her hair went streaming out from her till it spread like a mist over the stars. She flung herself abroad in space. Diam

f stones and rocks. Chimneys fell and tiles flew from the roofs. There was a great roaring for the wind was dashing against London like a stormy sea. Diamond, of course, at the back of North Wind,

wind, and a broom she was trailing behind her was very troublesome. It seemed as if the win

cried Diamond, “won’t yo

elp her if you like. Only, I can’t wait for you

again,” cried Diamond, “

think of that!”

the wind will blow her over! I m

swept away. North Wind vanished. The wind was roaring along the street. The little girl was scudding before it, her hair flying, while beh

irl!” shouted Diamond

the girl. “The w

turning around, caught her in his arms. Just then, he thought he got a glimpse of North Wind turning the corner in front of t

. “You show me the way you must go to

m. They went around turning after turning, till they stopped at

said Diamond. “I should

where else to go!” answered the gi

ays let you in?

et all night and scud back to my crossing the first

in. I want to go back to my mother. Come

wandered on and on, turning in this direction and that, without any reason for one way more than another. At last, they got out of the thick of the houses into a kind of waste place. By this time, they were both very tired, and Diamond was inclined to

her side. The moment they reached the top, a gust of wind seized them and blew them down hill as fast as they could run. Nor could Diamond stop before he

it well! It is Mr. Coleman’s garden and here I am at home again. Oh, I am so glad

you see that it is morning now? I must hurry back to my crossing and sweep it and get

round. He was sorry to see her go but there was no help for it. So when she was gone quite out of sight, he shut the door of the g