at the back of the north wind-第11章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



not　have　had　to　be　sorry　for　it。〃



〃Certainly　not。〃



〃Then　we　shouldn't　have　had　to　be　glad　for　it；　either。〃



〃You're　quite　right；　my　boy；〃　said　the　clergyman；　looking　at　him

very　kindly；　as　he　turned　away　to　the　house；　with　his　eyes　bent

towards　the　earth。　　But　Diamond　thought　within　himself；　〃I　will

ask　North　Wind　next　time　I　see　her　to　take　me　to　that　country。　

I　think　she　did　speak　about　it　once　before。〃









CHAPTER　IX



HOW　DIAMOND　GOT　TO　THE　BACK　OF　THE　NORTH　WIND





WHEN　Diamond　went　home　to　breakfast；　he　found　his　father　and　mother

already　seated　at　the　table。　　They　were　both　busy　with　their　bread

and　butter；　and　Diamond　sat　himself　down　in　his　usual　place。　

His　mother　looked　up　at　him；　and；　after　watching　him　for　a　moment；　said：



〃I　don't　think　the　boy　is　looking　well；　husband。〃



〃Don't　you？　　Well；　I　don't　know。　　I　think　he　looks　pretty　bobbish。　

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　carriagesor　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。　　You　would　have

thought　he　had　been　going　on　a　three　months'　voyage。　　Nor　will　I

describe　the　journey；　for　our　business　is　now　at　the　place。　

He　was　met　at　the　station　by　his　aunt；　a　cheerful　middle…aged　woman；

and　conveyed　in　safety　to　the　sleepy　old　town；　as　his　father　called　it。　

And　no　wonder　that　it　was　sleepy；　for　it　was　nearly　dead　of　old　age。



Diamond　went　about　staring　with　his　beautiful　goggle…eyes；

at　the　quaint　old　streets；　and　the　shops；　and　the　houses。　

Everything　looked　very　strange；　indeed；　for　here　was　a　town

abandoned　by　its　nurse；　the　sea；　like　an　old　oyster　left　on　the

shore　till　it　gaped　for　weariness。　　It　used　to　be　one　of　the　five

chief　seaports　in　England；　but　it　began　to　hold　itself　too　high；

and　the　consequence　was　the　sea　grew　less　and　less　intimate　with　it；

gradually　drew　back；　and　kept　more　to　itself；　till　at　length　it

left　it　high　and　dry：　　Sandwich　was　a　seaport　no　more；　the　sea

went　on　with　its　own　tide…business　a　long　way　off；　and　forgot　it。　

Of　course　it　went　to　sleep；　and　had　no　more　to　do　with　ships。　

That's　what　comes　to　cities　and　nations；　and　boys　and　girls；　who　say；

〃I　can　do　without　your　help。　　I'm　enough　for　myself。〃



Diamond　soon　made　great　friends　with　an　old　woman　who　kept　a　toyshop；

for　his　mother　had　given　him　twopence　for　pocket…money　before　he　left；

and　he　had　gone　into　her　shop　to　spend　it；　and　she　got　talking

to　him。　　She　looked　very　funny；　because　she　had　not　got　any　teeth；

but　Diamond　liked　her；　and　went　often　to　her　shop；　although　he　had

nothing　to　spend　there　after　the　twopence　was　gone。



One　afternoon　he　had　been　wandering　rather　wearily　about　the

streets　for　some　time。　　It　was　a　hot　day；　and　he　felt　tired。　

As　he　passed　the　toyshop；　he　stepped　in。



〃Please　may　I　sit　down　for　a　minute　on　this　box？〃　he　said；

thinking　the　old　woman　was　somewhere　in　the　shop。　　But　he　got

no　answer；　and　sat　down　without　one。　　Around　him　were　a　great　many

toys　of　all　prices；　from　a　penny　up　to　shillings。　　All　at　once　he

heard　a　gentle　whirring　somewhere　amongst　them。　　It　made　him　start

and　look　behind　him。　　There　were　the　sails　of　a　windmill　going

round　and　round　almost　close　to　his　ear。　　He　thought　at　first　it

must　be　one　of　those　toys　which　are　wound　up　and　go　with　clockwork；

but　no；　it　was　a　common　penny　toy；　with　the　windmill　at　the　end

of　a　whistle；　and　when　the　whistle　blows　the　windmill　goes。　

But　the　wonder　was　that　there　was　no　one　at　the　whistle　end　blowing；

and　yet　the　sails　were　turning　round　and　roundnow　faster；　now　slower；

now　faster　again。



〃What　can　it　mean？〃　said　Diamond；　aloud。



〃It　means　me；〃　said　the　tiniest　voice　he　had　ever　heard。



〃Who　are　you；　please？〃　asked　Diamond。



〃Well；　really；　I　begin　to　be　ashamed　of　you；〃　said　the　voice。　

〃I　wonder　how　long　it　will　be　before　you　know　me；　or　how　often

I　might　take　you　in　before　you　got　sharp　enough　to　suspect　me。　

You　are　as　bad　as　a　baby　that　doesn't　know　his　mother　in　a　new　bonnet。〃



〃Not　quite　so　bad　as　that；　dear　North　Wind；〃　said　Diamond；　〃for　I

didn't　see　you　at　all；　and　indeed　I　don't　see　you　yet；　although　I

recognise　your　voice。　　Do　grow　a　little；　please。〃



〃Not　a　hair's…breadth；〃　said　the　voice；　and　it　was　the　smallest

voice　that　ever　spoke。　　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃



〃I　am　come　to　see　my　aunt。　　But；　please；　North　Wind；　why　didn't

you　come　back　for　me　in　the　church　that　night？〃



〃I　did。　　I　carried　you　safe　home。　　All　the　time　you　were　dreaming

about　the　glass　Apostles；　you　were　lying　in　my　arms。〃



〃I'm　so　glad；〃　said　Diamond。　　〃I　thought　that　must　be　it；　only　I

wanted　to　hear　you　say　so。　　Did　you　sink　the　ship；　then？〃



〃Yes。〃



〃And　drown　everybody？〃



〃Not　quite。　　One　boat　got　away　with　six　or　seven　men　in　it。〃



〃How　could　the　boat　swim　when　the　ship　couldn't？〃



〃Of　course　I　had　some　trouble　with　it。　　I　had　to　contrive　a　bit；

and　manage　the　waves　a　little。　　When　they're　once　thoroughly

waked　up；　I　have　a　good　deal　of　trouble　with　them　sometimes。　

They're　apt　to　get　stupid　with　tumbling　over　each　other's　heads。　

That's　when　they're　fairly　at　it。　　However；　the　boat　got　to　a　desert

island　before　noon　next　day。〃



〃And　what　good　will　come　of　that？〃



〃I　don't　know。　　I　obeyed　orders。　　Good　bye。〃



〃Oh！　stay；　North　Wind；　do　stay！〃　cried　Diamond；　dismayed　to　see

the　windmill　get　slower　and　slower。



〃What　is　it；　my　dear　child？〃　said　North　Wind；　and　the　windmill

began　turning　again　so　swiftly　that　Diamond　could　scarcely　see　it。　

〃What　a　big　voice　you've　got！　and　what　a　noise　you　do　make　with　it？　

What　is　it　you　want？　　I　have　little　to　do；　but　that　little　must

be　done。〃



〃I　want　you　to　take　me　to　the　country　at　the　back　of　the　north　wind。〃



〃That's　not　so　easy；〃　said　North　Wind；　and　was　silent　for　so　long

that　Diamond　thought　she　was　gone　indeed。　　But　after　he　had　quite

given　her　up；　the　voice　began　again。



〃I　almost　wish　old　Herodotus　had　held　his　tongue　about　it。　

Much　he　knew　of　it！〃



〃Why　do　you　wish　that；　North　Wind？〃



〃Because　then　that　clergyman　would　never　have　heard　of　it；　and　set

you　wanting　to　go。　　But　we　shall　see。　　We　shall　see。　　You　must　go

home　now；　my　dear；　for　you　don't　seem　very　well；　and　I'll　see　what

can　be　done　for　you。　　Don't　wait　for　me。　　I've　got　to　break　a　few

of　old　Goody's　toys；　she's　thinking　too　much　of　her　new　stock。　

Two　or　three　will　do。　　There！　go　now。〃



Diamond　rose；　quite　sorry；　and　without　a　word　left　the　shop；

and　went　home。



It　soon　appeared　that　his　mother　had　been　right　about　him；

for　that　same　afternoon　his　head　began　to　ache　very　much；　and　he

had　to　go　to　bed。



He　awoke　in　the　middle　of　the　night。　　The　lattice　window　of　his　room

had　blown　open；　and　the　curtains　of　his　little　bed　were　swinging

about　in　the　wind。



〃If　that　should　be　North　Wind　now！〃　thought　Diamond。



But　the　next　moment　he　heard　some　one　closing　the　window；

and　his　aunt　came　to　his　bedside。　　She　put　her　hand　on　his　face；

and　said



〃How's　your　head；　dear？〃



〃Better；　auntie；　I　think。〃



〃Would　you　like　something　to　drink？〃



〃Oh；　yes！　　I　should；　please。〃



So　his　aunt　gave　him　some　lemonade；　for　she　had　been　used

to　nursing　sick　people；　and　Diamond　felt　very　much　refreshed；

and　laid　his　head　down　again　to　go　very　fast　asleep；　as　he　thought。　

And　so　he　did；　but　only　to　come　awake　again；　as　a　fresh　burst　of　wind

blew　the　lattice　open　a　second　time。　　The　same　moment　he　found

himself　in　a　cloud　of　North　Wind's　hair；　with　her　beautiful　face；

set　in　it　like　a　moon；　bending　over　him。



〃Quick；　Diamond！〃　she　said。　　〃I　have　found　such　a　chance！〃



〃But　I'm　not　well；〃　said　Diamond。



〃I　know　that；　but　you　will　be　better　for　a　little　fresh　air。　

You　shall　have　plenty　of　that。〃



〃You　want　me　to　go；　then？〃



〃Yes；　I　do。　　It　won't　hurt　you。〃



〃Very　well；〃　said　Diamond；　and　getting　out　of　the　bed…clothes；　he

jumped　into　North　Wind's　arms。



〃We　must　make　haste　before　your　aunt　comes；〃　said　she；　as　she

glided　out　of　the　open　lattice　and　left　it　swinging。



The　moment　Diamond　felt　her　arms　fold　around　him　he　began　to

feel　better。　　It　was　a　moonless　night；　and　very　dark；　with　glimpses

of　stars　when　the　clouds　parted。



〃I　used　to　dash　the　waves　about　here；〃　said　North　Wind；　〃where　cows

and　sheep　are　feeding　now；　but　we　shall　soon　get　to　them。　

There　they　are。〃



And　Diamond；　looking　down；　saw　the　white　glimmer　of　breaking　water

far　below　him。



〃You　see；　Diamond；〃　said　North　Wind；　〃it　is　very　difficult　for　me

to　get　you　to　the　back　of　the　north　wind；　for　that　country　lies

in　the　very　north　itself；　and　of　course　I　can't　blow　northwards。〃



〃Why　not？〃　asked　Diamond。



〃You　little　silly！〃　said　North　Wind。　　〃Don't　you　see　that　if　I

were　to　blow　northwards　I　should　be　South　Wind；　and　that　is　as　much

as　to　say　that　one　person　could　be　two　persons？〃



〃But　how　can　you　ever　get　home　at　all；　then？〃



〃You　are　quite　rightthat　is　my　home；　though　I　never　get　farther　than

the　outer　door。　　I　sit　on　the　doorstep；　and　hear　the　voices　inside。　

I　am　nobody　there；　Diamond。〃



〃I'm　very　sorry。