at the back of the north wind-第36章

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so　far。　　‘Can　you　see　anything　so　small　and　so　far　off？'　　I　said。　

‘Bless　you；　child！'　said　the　little　man；　‘I　could　pick　up　a　needle

out　of　the　grass　if　I　had　only　a　long　enough　arm。　　There's　one

lying　by　the　door　of　the　summer…house　now。'　　I　looked　at　his　eyes。　

They　were　very　small；　but　so　bright　that　I　think　he　saw　by　the　light

that　went　out　of　them。　　Then　he　took　me　up；　and　up　again　by　a　little

stair　in　a　corner　of　the　room；　and　through　another　trapdoor；

and　there　was　one　great　round　window　above　us；　and　I　saw　the　blue

sky　and　the　clouds；　and　such　lots　of　stars；　all　so　big　and　shining

as　hard　as　ever　they　could！〃



〃The　little　girl…angels　had　been　polishing　them；〃　said　Diamond。



〃What　nonsense　you　do　talk！〃　said　Nanny。



〃But　my　nonsense　is　just　as　good　as　yours；　Nanny。　　When　you　have　done；

I'll　tell　you　my　dream。　　The　stars　are　in　itnot　the　moon；　though。　

She　was　away　somewhere。　　Perhaps　she　was　gone　to　fetch　you　then。　

I　don't　think　that；　though；　for　my　dream　was　longer　ago　than　yours。　

She　might　have　been　to　fetch　some　one　else；　though；　for　we　can't

fancy　it's　only　us　that　get　such　fine　things　done　for　them。　

But　do　tell　me　what　came　next。〃



Perhaps　one　of　my　child…readers　may　remember　whether　the　moon　came

down　to　fetch　him　or　her　the　same　night　that　Diamond　had　his　dream。　

I　cannot　tell；　of　course。　　I　know　she　did　not　come　to　fetch　me；

though　I　did　think　I　could　make　her　follow　me　when　I　was　a　boy

not　a　very　tiny　one　either。



〃The　little　man　took　me　all　round　the　house；　and　made　me　look

out　of　every　window。　　Oh；　it　was　beautiful！　　There　we　were；

all　up　in　the　air；　in　such　a　nice；　clean　little　house！　　‘Your　work

will　be　to　keep　the　windows　bright；'　said　the　little　man。　

‘You　won't　find　it　very　difficult；　for　there　ain't　much　dust　up　here。　

Only；　the　frost　settles　on　them　sometimes；　and　the　drops　of　rain

leave　marks　on　them。'　　‘I　can　easily　clean　them　inside；'　I　said；

‘but　how　am　I　to　get　the　frost　and　rain　off　the　outside　of　them？'　

‘Oh！'　he　said；　‘it's　quite　easy。　　There　are　ladders　all　about。　

You've　only　got　to　go　out　at　the　door；　and　climb　about。　　There　are

a　great　many　windows　you　haven't　seen　yet；　and　some　of　them　look　into

places　you　don't　know　anything　about。　　I　used　to　clean　them　myself；

but　I'm　getting　rather　old；　you　see。　　Ain't　I　now？'　　‘I　can't　tell；'

I　answered。　　‘You　see　I　never　saw　you　when　you　were　younger。'　

‘Never　saw　the　man　in　the　moon？'　said　he。　　‘Not　very　near；'

I　answered；　‘not　to　tell　how　young　or　how　old　he　looked。　　I　have

seen　the　bundle　of　sticks　on　his　back。'　　For　Jim　had　pointed　that

out　to　me。　　Jim　was　very　fond　of　looking　at　the　man　in　the　moon。　

Poor　Jim！　　I　wonder　he　hasn't　been　to　see　me。　　I'm　afraid　he's

ill　too。〃



〃I'll　try　to　find　out；〃　said　Diamond；　〃and　let　you　know。〃



〃Thank　you；〃　said　Nanny。　　〃You　and　Jim　ought　to　be　friends。〃



〃But　what　did　the　man　in　the　moon　say；　when　you　told　him　you　had

seen　him　with　the　bundle　of　sticks　on　his　back？〃



〃He　laughed。　　But　I　thought　he　looked　offended　too。　　His　little

nose　turned　up　sharper；　and　he　drew　the　corners　of　his　mouth　down

from　the　tips　of　his　ears　into　his　neck。　　But　he　didn't　look　cross；

you　know。〃



〃Didn't　he　say　anything？〃



〃Oh；　yes！　　He　said：　　‘That's　all　nonsense。　　What　you　saw　was　my　bundle

of　dusters。　　I　was　going　to　clean　the　windows。　　It　takes　a　good　many；

you　know。　　Really；　what　they　do　say　of　their　superiors　down　there！'　

‘It's　only　because　they　don't　know　better；'　I　ventured　to　say。　

‘Of　course；　of　course；'　said　the　little　man。　　‘Nobody　ever　does

know　better。　　Well；　I　forgive　them；　and　that　sets　it　all　right；

I　hope。'　　‘It's　very　good　of　you；'　I　said。　　‘No！'　said　he；　‘it's　not

in　the　least　good　of　me。　　I　couldn't　be　comfortable　otherwise。'　

After　this　he　said　nothing　for　a　while；　and　I　laid　myself　on　the　floor

of　his　garret；　and　stared　up　and　around　at　the　great　blue　beautifulness。　

I　had　forgotten　him　almost；　when　at　last　he　said：　　‘Ain't　you　done　yet？'　

‘Done　what？'　　I　asked。　　‘Done　saying　your　prayers；'　says　he。　

'I　wasn't　saying　my　prayers；'　I　answered。　　‘Oh；　yes；　you　were；'

said　he；　‘though　you　didn't　know　it！　　And　now　I　must　show　you

something　else。'



〃He　took　my　hand　and　led　me　down　the　stair　again；　and　through

a　narrow　passage；　and　through　another；　and　another；　and　another。　

I　don't　know　how　there　could　be　room　for　so　many　passages　in　such

a　little　house。　　The　heart　of　it　must　be　ever　so　much　farther　from

the　sides　than　they　are　from　each　other。　　How　could　it　have　an

inside　that　was　so　independent　of　its　outside？　　There's　the　point。　

It　was　funnywasn't　it；　Diamond？〃



〃No；〃　said　Diamond。　　He　was　going　to　say　that　that　was　very　much

the　sort　of　thing　at　the　back　of　the　north　wind；　but　he　checked

himself　and　only　added；　〃All　right。　　I　don't　see　it。　　I　don't　see

why　the　inside　should　depend　on　the　outside。　　It　ain't　so　with

the　crabs。　　They　creep　out　of　their　outsides　and　make　new　ones。　

Mr。　Raymond　told　me　so。〃



〃I　don't　see　what　that　has　got　to　do　with　it；〃　said　Nanny。



〃Then　go　on　with　your　story；　please；〃　said　Diamond。　　〃What　did

you　come　to；　after　going　through　all　those　winding　passages　into

the　heart　of　the　moon？〃



〃I　didn't　say　they　were　winding　passages。　　I　said　they　were　long

and　narrow。　　They　didn't　wind。　　They　went　by　corners。〃



〃That's　worth　knowing；〃　remarked　Diamond。　　〃For　who　knows　how　soon

he　may　have　to　go　there？　　But　the　main　thing　is；　what　did　you　come

to　at　last？〃



〃We　came　to　a　small　box　against　the　wall　of　a　tiny　room。　

The　little　man　told　me　to　put　my　ear　against　it。　　I　did　so；

and　heard　a　noise　something　like　the　purring　of　a　cat；　only　not

so　loud；　and　much　sweeter。　　‘What　is　it？'　　I　asked。　　‘Don't　you

know　the　sound？'　returned　the　little　man。　　‘No；'　I　answered。　

‘Don't　you　know　the　sound　of　bees？'　he　said。　　I　had　never　heard　bees；

and　could　not　know　the　sound　of　them。　　‘Those　are　my　lady's　bees；'

he　went　on。　　I　had　heard　that　bees　gather　honey　from　the　flowers。　

‘But　where　are　the　flowers　for　them？'　　I　asked。　　‘My　lady's　bees

gather　their　honey　from　the　sun　and　the　stars；'　said　the　little　man。　

‘Do　let　me　see　them；'　I　said。　　‘No。　I　daren't　do　that；'　he　answered。　

‘I　have　no　business　with　them。　　I　don't　understand　them。　

Besides；　they　are　so　bright　that　if　one　were　to　fly　into　your　eye；

it　would　blind　you　altogether。'　　‘Then　you　have　seen　them？'　

‘Oh；　yes！　　Once　or　twice；　I　think。　　But　I　don't　quite　know：　

they　are　so　very　brightlike　buttons　of　lightning。　　Now　I've

showed　you　all　I　can　to…night；　and　we'll　go　back　to　the　room。'　

I　followed　him；　and　he　made　me　sit　down　under　a　lamp　that　hung　from

the　roof；　and　gave　me　some　bread　and　honey。



〃The　lady　had　never　moved。　　She　sat　with　her　forehead　leaning

on　her　hand；　gazing　out　of　the　little　window；　hung　like　the　rest

with　white　cloudy　curtains。　　From　where　I　was　sitting　I　looked　out

of　it　too；　but　I　could　see　nothing。　　Her　face　was　very　beautiful；

and　very　white；　and　very　still；　and　her　hand　was　as　white　as

the　forehead　that　leaned　on　it。　　I　did　not　see　her　whole　face

only　the　side　of　it；　for　she　never　moved　to　turn　it　full　upon　me；

or　even　to　look　at　me。



〃How　long　I　sat　after　I　had　eaten　my　bread　and　honey；　I　don't　know。　

The　little　man　was　busy　about　the　room；　pulling　a　string　here；

and　a　string　there；　but　chiefly　the　string　at　the　back　of　the　door。　

I　was　thinking　with　some　uneasiness　that　he　would　soon　be　wanting

me　to　go　out　and　clean　the　windows；　and　I　didn't　fancy　the　job。　

At　last　he　came　up　to　me　with　a　great　armful　of　dusters。　　‘It's　time

you　set　about　the　windows；'　he　said；　‘for　there's　rain　coming；

and　if　they're　quite　clean　before；　then　the　rain　can't　spoil　them。'　

I　got　up　at　once。　　‘You　needn't　be　afraid；'　he　said。　　‘You　won't

tumble　off。　　Only　you　must　be　careful。　　Always　hold　on　with　one　hand

while　you　rub　with　the　other。'　　As　he　spoke；　he　opened　the　door。　

I　started　back　in　a　terrible　fright；　for　there　was　nothing　but　blue

air　to　be　seen　under　me；　like　a　great　water　without　a　bottom　at　all。　

But　what　must　be　must；　and　to　live　up　here　was　so　much　nicer

than　down　in　the　mud　with　holes　in　my　shoes；　that　I　never　thought

of　not　doing　as　I　was　told。　　The　little　man　showed　me　how　and

where　to　lay　hold　while　I　put　my　foot　round　the　edge　of　the　door

on　to　the　first　round　of　a　ladder。　　‘Once　you're　up；'　he　said；

‘you'll　see　how　you　have　to　go　well　enough。'　　I　did　as　he　told　me；

and　crept　out　very　carefully。　　Then　the　little　man　handed　me　the

bundle　of　dusters；　saying；　‘I　always　carry　them　on　my　reaping　hook；

but　I　don't　think　you　could　manage　it　properly。　　You　shall　have

it　if　you　like。'　　I　wouldn't　take　it；　however；　for　it　looked

dangerous。



〃I　did　the　best　I　could　with　the　dusters；　and　crawled　up　to　the

top　of　the　moon。　　But　what　a　grand　sight　it　was！　　The　stars

were　all　over　my　head；　so　bright　and　so　near　that　I　could　almost

have　laid　hold　of　them。　　The　round　ball　to　which　I　clung　went

bobbing　and　floating　away　through　the　dark　blue　above　and　below

and　on　every　side。　　It　was　so　beautiful　that　all　fear　left　me；

and　I　set　to　work　diligently。　　I　cleaned　window　after　window。　

At　length　I　came　to　a　very　little　one；　in　at　which　I　peeped。　

There　was　the　room　with　the　box　of　bees　in　it！　　I　laid　my　ear

to　the　window；　and　heard　the　musical　hum　quite　distinctly。　

A　great　longing　to　see　them　came　upon　me；　and　I　opened　the　window

and　crept　in。　　The　little　box　had　a　door　like　a　closet。　　I　opened　it

the　tiniest　crackwhen　out　came　the　light　with　such　a　sting　that　I

closed　it　again　in　terrornot；　however；　before　three　bees　had　shot

out　into　the　room；　where　they　darted　about　like　flashes　of　lightning。　

Terribly　frightened；　I　tried　to　get　out　of　the　window　again；　but　I

could　not：　　there　was　no　way　to　the　outside　of　the　moon　but　through

the　door；　and　that　was　in　the　room　where　the　lady　sat。　　No　sooner

had　I　reached　the　room；　than　the　three　bees；　which　had　followed　me；

flew　at　once　to　the　lady；　and　settled　upon　her　hair。　　Then　first

I　saw　her　move。　　She　started；　put　up　her　hand；　and　caught　them；

then　rose　and；　having　held　them　into　the　flame　of　the　lamp　one　after

the　other；　turned　to　me。　　Her　face　was　not　so　sad　now　as　stern。　

It　frightened　me　much。　　‘Nanny；　you　have　got　me　into　trouble；'

she　said。　　‘You　have　been　letting　out　my　bees；　which　it　is　all　I　can

do　to　manage。　　You　have　forced　me　to　burn　them。　　It　is　a　great　loss；

and　there　will　be　a　storm。'　　As　she　spoke；　the　clouds　had　gathered

all　about　us。　　I　could　see　them　come　crowding　up　white　about

the　windows。　　‘I　am　sorry　to　find；'　said　the　lady；　‘that　you　are

not　to　be　trusted。　　You　must　go　home　againyou　won't　do　for　us。'　

Then　came　a　great　clap　of　thunder；　and　the　moon　rocked　and　swayed。　

All　grew　dark　about　me；　and　I　fell　on　the　floor　and　lay　half…stunned。

I　could　hear　everything　but　could　see　nothing。　　‘Shall　I　throw　her

out　of　the　door；　my　la