at the back of the north wind-第35章

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it　was　so　beautiful！　　And　as　she　talked　I　kept　seeing　deeper　and　deeper

into　the　stone。　　At　last　she　rose　to　go　away；　and　I　began　to　pull

the　ring　off　my　finger；　and　what　do　you　think　she　said？〃Wear

it　all　night；　if　you　like。　　Only　you　must　take　care　of　it。　

I　can't　give　it　you；　for　some　one　gave　it　to　me；　but　you　may　keep　it

till　to…morrow。〃　Wasn't　it　kind　of　her？　　I　could　hardly　take　my　tea；

I　was　so　delighted　to　hear　it；　and　I　do　think　it　was　the　ring

that　set　me　dreaming；　for；　after　I　had　taken　my　tea；　I　leaned　back；

half　lying　and　half　sitting；　and　looked　at　the　ring　on　my　finger。　

By　degrees　I　began　to　dream。　　The　ring　grew　larger　and　larger；

until　at　last　I　found　that　I　was　not　looking　at　a　red　stone；

but　at　a　red　sunset；　which　shone　in　at　the　end　of　a　long　street

near　where　Grannie　lives。　　I　was　dressed　in　rags　as　I　used　to　be；

and　I　had　great　holes　in　my　shoes；　at　which　the　nasty　mud　came

through　to　my　feet。　　I　didn't　use　to　mind　it　before；　but　now　I　thought

it　horrid。　　And　there　was　the　great　red　sunset；　with　streaks　of　green

and　gold　between；　standing　looking　at　me。　　Why　couldn't　I　live　in

the　sunset　instead　of　in　that　dirt？　　Why　was　it　so　far　away　always？　

Why　did　it　never　come　into　our　wretched　street？　　It　faded　away；

as　the　sunsets　always　do；　and　at　last　went　out　altogether。　

Then　a　cold　wind　began　to　blow；　and　flutter　all　my　rags　about〃



〃That　was　North　Wind　herself；〃　said　Diamond。



〃Eh？〃　said　Nanny；　and　went　on　with　her　story。



〃I　turned　my　back　to　it；　and　wandered　away。　　I　did　not　know　where　I

was　going；　only　it　was　warmer　to　go　that　way。　　I　don't　think　it

was　a　north　wind；　for　I　found　myself　in　the　west　end　at　last。　

But　it　doesn't　matter　in　a　dream　which　wind　it　was。〃



〃I　don't　know　that；〃　said　Diamond。　　〃I　believe　North　Wind　can　get

into　our　dreamsyes；　and　blow　in　them。　　Sometimes　she　has　blown

me　out　of　a　dream　altogether。〃



〃I　don't　know　what　you　mean；　Diamond；〃　said　Nanny。



〃Never　mind；〃　answered　Diamond。　　〃Two　people　can't　always　understand

each　other。　　They'd　both　be　at　the　back　of　the　north　wind　directly；

and　what　would　become　of　the　other　places　without　them？〃



〃You　do　talk　so　oddly！〃　said　Nanny。　　〃I　sometimes　think　they　must

have　been　right　about　you。〃



〃What　did　they　say　about　me？〃　asked　Diamond。



〃They　called　you　God's　baby。〃



〃How　kind　of　them！　　But　I　knew　that。〃



〃Did　you　know　what　it　meant；　though？　　It　meant　that　you　were　not

right　in　the　head。〃



〃I　feel　all　right；〃　said　Diamond；　putting　both　hands　to　his　head；

as　if　it　had　been　a　globe　he　could　take　off　and　set　on　again。



〃Well；　as　long　as　you　are　pleased　I　am　pleased；〃　said　Nanny。



〃Thank　you；　Nanny。　　Do　go　on　with　your　story。　　I　think　I　like

dreams　even　better　than　fairy　tales。　　But　they　must　be　nice　ones；

like　yours；　you　know。〃



〃Well；　I　went　on；　keeping　my　back　to　the　wind；　until　I　came　to　a　fine

street　on　the　top　of　a　hill。　　How　it　happened　I　don't　know；　but　the

front　door　of　one　of　the　houses　was　open；　and　not　only　the　front　door；

but　the　back　door　as　well；　so　that　I　could　see　right　through　the　house

and　what　do　you　think　I　saw？　　A　garden　place　with　green　grass；

and　the　moon　shining　upon　it！　　Think　of　that！　　There　was　no　moon

in　the　street；　but　through　the　house　there　was　the　moon。　　I　looked

and　there　was　nobody　near：　　I　would　not　do　any　harm；　and　the　grass

was　so　much　nicer　than　the　mud！　　But　I　couldn't　think　of　going　on

the　grass　with　such　dirty　shoes：　　I　kicked　them　off　in　the　gutter；

and　ran　in　on　my　bare　feet；　up　the　steps；　and　through　the　house；

and　on　to　the　grass；　and　the　moment　I　came　into　the　moonlight；

I　began　to　feel　better。〃



〃That's　why　North　Wind　blew　you　there；〃　said　Diamond。



〃It　came　of　Mr。　Raymond's　story　about　Princess　Daylight；〃　returned　Nanny。　

〃Well；　I　lay　down　upon　the　grass　in　the　moonlight　without　thinking

how　I　was　to　get　out　again。　　Somehow　the　moon　suited　me　exactly。　

There　was　not　a　breath　of　the　north　wind　you　talk　about；　it　was

quite　gone。〃



〃You　didn't　want　her　any　more；　just　then。　　She　never　goes　where　she's

not　wanted；〃　said　Diamond。　　〃But　she　blew　you　into　the　moonlight；　anyhow。〃



〃Well；　we　won't　dispute　about　it；〃　said　Nanny：　　〃you've　got

a　tile　loose；　you　know。〃



〃Suppose　I　have；〃　returned　Diamond；　〃don't　you　see　it　may　let

in　the　moonlight；　or　the　sunlight　for　that　matter？〃



〃Perhaps　yes；　perhaps　no；〃　said　Nanny。



〃And　you've　got　your　dreams；　too；　Nanny。〃



〃Yes；　but　I　know　they're　dreams。〃



〃So　do　I。　But　I　know　besides　they　are　something　more　as　well。〃



〃Oh！　do　you？〃　rejoined　Nanny。　　〃I　don't。〃



〃All　right；〃　said　Diamond。　　〃Perhaps　you　will　some　day。〃



〃Perhaps　I　won't；〃　said　Nanny。



Diamond　held　his　peace；　and　Nanny　resumed　her　story。



〃I　lay　a　long　time；　and　the　moonlight　got　in　at　every　tear

in　my　clothes；　and　made　me　feel　so　happy〃



〃There；　I　tell　you！〃　said　Diamond。



〃What　do　you　tell　me？〃　returned　Nanny。



〃North　Wind〃



〃It　was　the　moonlight；　I　tell　you；〃　persisted　Nanny；　and　again

Diamond　held　his　peace。



〃All　at　once　I　felt　that　the　moon　was　not　shining　so　strong。　

I　looked　up；　and　there　was　a　cloud；　all　crapey　and　fluffy；

trying　to　drown　the　beautiful　creature。　　But　the　moon　was　so　round；

just　like　a　whole　plate；　that　the　cloud　couldn't　stick　to　her。　

She　shook　it　off；　and　said　there　and　shone　out　clearer　and　brighter

than　ever。　　But　up　came　a　thicker　cloud；and　〃You　shan't；〃

said　the　moon；　and　〃I　will；〃　said　the　cloud；but　it　couldn't：　out

shone　the　moon；　quite　laughing　at　its　impudence。　　I　knew　her　ways；

for　I've　always　been　used　to　watch　her。　　She's　the　only　thing　worth

looking　at　in　our　street　at　night。〃



〃Don't　call　it　your　street；〃　said　Diamond。　　〃You're　not　going　back

to　it。　　You're　coming　to　us；　you　know。〃



〃That's　too　good　to　be　true；〃　said　Nanny。



〃There　are　very　few　things　good　enough　to　be　true；〃　said　Diamond；

〃but　I　hope　this　is。　　Too　good　to　be　true　it　can't　be。　　Isn't　true

good？　and　isn't　good　good？　　And　how；　then；　can　anything　be　too　good

to　be　true？　　That's　like　old　Salto　say　that。〃



〃Don't　abuse　Grannie；　Diamond。　　She's　a　horrid　old　thing；

she　and　her　gin　bottle；　but　she'll　repent　some　day；　and　then

you'll　be　glad　not　to　have　said　anything　against　her。〃



〃Why？〃　said　Diamond。



〃Because　you'll　be　sorry　for　her。〃



〃I　am　sorry　for　her　now。〃



〃Very　well。　　That's　right。　　She'll　be　sorry　too。　　And　there'll

be　an　end　of　it。〃



〃All　right。　　You　come　to　us；〃　said　Diamond。



〃Where　was　I？〃　said　Nanny。



〃Telling　me　how　the　moon　served　the　clouds。〃



〃Yes。　　But　it　wouldn't　do；　all　of　it。　　Up　came　the　clouds　and　the　clouds；

and　they　came　faster　and　faster；　until　the　moon　was　covered　up。　

You　couldn't　expect　her　to　throw　off　a　hundred　of　them　at　once

could　you？〃



〃Certainly　not；〃　said　Diamond。



〃So　it　grew　very　dark；　and　a　dog　began　to　yelp　in　the　house。　　I　looked

and　saw　that　the　door　to　the　garden　was　shut。　　Presently　it　was　opened

not　to　let　me　out；　but　to　let　the　dog　inyelping　and　bounding。　

I　thought　if　he　caught　sight　of　me；　I　was　in　for　a　biting　first；

and　the　police　after。　　So　I　jumped　up；　and　ran　for　a　little

summer…house　in　the　corner　of　the　garden。　　The　dog　came　after　me；

but　I　shut　the　door　in　his　face。　　It　was　well　it　had　a　door

wasn't　it？〃



〃You　dreamed　of　the　door　because　you　wanted　it；〃　said　Diamond。



〃No；　I　didn't；　it　came　of　itself。　　It　was　there；　in　the　true　dream。〃



〃ThereI've　caught　you！〃　said　Diamond。　　〃I　knew　you　believed

in　the　dream　as　much　as　I　do。〃



〃Oh；　well；　if　you　will　lay　traps　for　a　body！〃　said　Nanny。　

〃Anyhow；　I　was　safe　inside　the　summer…house。　And　what　do　you　think？

There　was　the　moon　beginning　to　shine　againbut　only　through

one　of　the　panesand　that　one　was　just　the　colour　of　the　ruby。　

Wasn't　it　funny？〃



〃No；　not　a　bit　funny；〃　said　Diamond。



〃If　you　will　be　contrary！〃　said　Nanny。



〃No；　no；〃　said　Diamond；　〃I　only　meant　that　was　the　very　pane　I

should　have　expected　her　to　shine　through。〃



〃Oh；　very　well！〃　returned　Nanny。



What　Diamond　meant；　I　do　not　pretend　to　say。　　He　had　curious　notions

about　things。



〃And　now；〃　said　Nanny；　〃I　didn't　know　what　to　do；　for　the　dog　kept

barking　at　the　door；　and　I　couldn't　get　out。　　But　the　moon　was　so

beautiful　that　I　couldn't　keep　from　looking　at　it　through　the　red　pane。　

And　as　I　looked　it　got　larger　and　larger　till　it　filled　the　whole

pane　and　outgrew　it；　so　that　I　could　see　it　through　the　other　panes；

and　it　grew　till　it　filled　them　too　and　the　whole　window；　so　that

the　summer…house　was　nearly　as　bright　as　day。



〃The　dog　stopped　barking；　and　I　heard　a　gentle　tapping　at　the　door；

like　the　wind　blowing　a　little　branch　against　it。〃



〃Just　like　her；〃　said　Diamond；　who　thought　everything　strange

and　beautiful　must　be　done　by　North　Wind。



〃So　I　turned　from　the　window　and　opened　the　door；　and　what　do　you

think　I　saw？〃



〃A　beautiful　lady；〃　said　Diamond。



〃Nothe　moon　itself；　as　big　as　a　little　house；　and　as　round

as　a　ball；　shining　like　yellow　silver。　　It　stood　on　the　grass

down　on　the　very　grass：　　I　could　see　nothing　else　for　the

brightness　of　it：　　And　as　I　stared　and　wondered；　a　door　opened

in　the　side　of　it；　near　the　ground；　and　a　curious　little　old　man；

with　a　crooked　thing　over　his　shoulder；　looked　out；　and　said：　

'Come　along；　Nanny；　my　lady　wants　you。　　We're　come　to　fetch　you。〃　

I　wasn't　a　bit　frightened。　　I　went　up　to　the　beautiful　bright　thing；

and　the　old　man　held　down　his　hand；　and　I　took　hold　of　it；

and　gave　a　jump；　and　he　gave　me　a　lift；　and　I　was　inside　the　moon。　

And　what　do　you　think　it　was　like？　　It　was　such　a　pretty　little　house；

with　blue　windows　and　white　curtains！　　At　one　of　the　windows　sat

a　beautiful　lady；　with　her　head　leaning　on　her　hand；　looking　out。　

She　seemed　rather　sad；　and　I　was　sorry　for　her；　and　stood　staring

at　her。



〃‘You　didn't　think　I　had　such　a　beautiful　mistress　as　that！'

said　the　queer　little　man。　　‘No；　indeed！'　　I　answered：　　‘who　would　have

thought　it？'　　‘Ah！　who　indeed？　　But　you　see　you　don't　know　everything。'　

The　little　man　closed　the　door；　and　began　to　pull　at　a　rope　which　hung

behind　it　with　a　weight　at　the　end。　　After　he　had　pulled　a　while；

he　said‘There；　that　will　do；　we're　all　right　now。'　　Then　he　took

me　by　the　hand　and　opened　a　little　trap　in　the　floor；　and　led　me

down　two　or　three　steps；　and　I　saw　like　a　great　hole　below　me。　

‘Don't　be　frightened；'　said　the　tittle　man。　　‘It's　not　a　hole。　

It's　only　a　window。　　Put　your　face　down　and　look　through。'　　I　did　as　he

told　me；　and　there　was　the　garden　and　the　summer…house；　far　away；

lying　at　the　bottom　of　the　moonlight。　　‘There！'　said　the　little　man；

‘we've　brought　you　off！　　Do　you　see　the　little　dog　barking　at　us

down　there　in　the　garden？'　　I　told　him　I　couldn't　see　anything

so　far。　　‘Can　you　see　anything　so　small　and