at the back of the north wind-第7章

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and　the　little　girl　was　she　for　whose　sake　he　had　got　off　North

Wind's　back。　　He　drew　Diamond's　bridle　in　eager　anxiety　to　see　whether

her　outstretched　hand　would　gather　a　penny　from　Mrs。　Coleman。　

But　she　had　given　one　at　the　last　crossing；　and　the　hand　returned

only　to　grasp　its　broom。　　Diamond　could　not　bear　it。　　He　had　a　penny

in　his　pocket；　a　gift　of　the　same　lady　the　day　before；　and　he　tumbled

off　his　horse　to　give　it　to　the　girl。　　He　tumbled　off；　I　say；　for　he

did　tumble　when　he　reached　the　ground。　　But　he　got　up　in　an　instant；

and　ran；　searching　his　pocket　as　he　ran。　　She　made　him　a　pretty

courtesy　when　he　offered　his　treasure；　but　with　a　bewildered　stare。　

She　thought　first：　　〃Then　he　was　on　the　back　of　the　North　Wind

after　all！〃　but；　looking　up　at　the　sound　of　the　horse's　feet

on　the　paved　crossing；　she　changed　her　idea；　saying　to　herself；

〃North　Wind　is　his　father's　horse！　　That's　the　secret　of　it！　

Why　couldn't　he　say　so？〃　　And　she　had　a　mind　to　refuse　the　penny。　

But　his　smile　put　it　all　right；　and　she　not　only　took　his　penny

but　put　it　in　her　mouth　with　a　〃Thank　you；　mister。　　Did　they　wollop

you　then？〃



〃Oh　no！〃　answered　Diamond。　　〃They　never　wollops　me。〃



〃Lor！〃　said　the　little　girl；　and　was　speechless。



Meantime　his　father；　looking　up；　and　seeing　the　horse's　back　bare；

suffered　a　pang　of　awful　dread；　but　the　next　moment　catching　sight

of　him；　took　him　up　and　put　him　on；　saying



〃Don't　get　off　again；　Diamond。　　The　horse　might　have　put　his　foot

on　you。〃



〃No；　father；〃　answered　the　boy；　and　rode　on　in　majestic　safety。



The　summer　drew　near；　warm　and　splendid。　　Miss　Coleman　was　a　little

better　in　health；　and　sat　a　good　deal　in　the　garden。　　One　day

she　saw　Diamond　peeping　through　the　shrubbery；　and　called　him。　

He　talked　to　her　so　frankly　that　she　often　sent　for　him　after　that；

and　by　degrees　it　came　about　that　he　had　leave　to　run　in　the　garden

as　he　pleased。　　He　never　touched　any　of　the　flowers　or　blossoms；

for　he　was　not　like　some　boys　who　cannot　enjoy　a　thing　without

pulling　it　to　pieces；　and　so　preventing　every　one　from　enjoying　it

after　them。



A　week　even　makes　such　a　long　time　in　a　child's　life；　that　Diamond

had　begun　once　more　to　feel　as　if　North　Wind　were　a　dream　of　some

far…off　year。



One　hot　evening；　he　had　been　sitting　with　the　young　mistress；

as　they　called　her；　in　a　little　summer…house　at　the　bottom

of　the　lawna　wonderful　thing　for　beauty；　the　boy　thought；

for　a　little　window　in　the　side　of　it　was　made　of　coloured　glass。　

It　grew　dusky；　and　the　lady　began　to　feel　chill；　and　went　in；

leaving　the　boy　in　the　summer…house。　He　sat　there　gazing　out　at

a　bed　of　tulips；　which；　although　they　had　closed　for　the　night；

could　not　go　quite　asleep　for　the　wind　that　kept　waving　them　about。　

All　at　once　he　saw　a　great　bumble…bee　fly　out　of　one　of　the　tulips。



〃There！　that　is　something　done；〃　said　a　voicea　gentle；　merry；

childish　voice；　but　so　tiny。　　〃At　last　it　was。　　I　thought

he　would　have　had　to　stay　there　all　night；　poor　fellow！　　I　did。〃



Diamond　could　not　tell　whether　the　voice　was　near　or　far　away；

it　was　so　small　and　yet　so　clear。　　He　had　never　seen　a　fairy；

but　he　had　heard　of　such；　and　he　began　to　look　all　about　for　one。　

And　there　was　the　tiniest　creature　sliding　down　the　stem　of

the　tulip！



〃Are　you　the　fairy　that　herds　the　bees？〃　he　asked；　going　out　of　the

summer…house；　and　down　on　his　knees　on　the　green　shore　of　the　tulip…bed。



〃I'm　not　a　fairy；〃　answered　the　little　creature。



〃How　do　you　know　that？〃



〃It　would　become　you　better　to　ask　how　you　are　to　know　it。〃



〃You've　just　told　me。〃



〃Yes。　　But　what's　the　use　of　knowing　a　thing　only　because　you're

told　it？〃



〃Well；　how　am　I　to　know　you　are　not　a　fairy？　　You　do　look　very

like　one。〃



〃In　the　first　place；　fairies　are　much　bigger　than　you　see　me。〃



〃Oh！〃　said　Diamond　reflectively；　〃I　thought　they　were　very　little。〃



〃But　they　might　be　tremendously　bigger　than　I　am；　and　yet　not

very　big。　　Why；　I　could　be　six　times　the　size　I　am；　and　not　be

very　huge。　　Besides；　a　fairy　can't　grow　big　and　little　at　will；

though　the　nursery…tales　do　say　so：　　they　don't　know　better。　

You　stupid　Diamond！　have　you　never　seen　me　before？〃



And；　as　she　spoke；　a　moan　of　wind　bent　the　tulips　almost　to

the　ground；　and　the　creature　laid　her　hand　on　Diamond's　shoulder。　

In　a　moment　he　knew　that　it　was　North　Wind。



〃I　am　very　stupid；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　never　saw　you　so　small　before；

not　even　when　you　were　nursing　the　primrose。〃



〃Must　you　see　me　every　size　that　can　be　measured　before　you

know　me；　Diamond？〃



〃But　how　could　I　think　it　was　you　taking　care　of　a　great

stupid　bumble…bee？〃



〃The　more　stupid　he　was　the　more　need　he　had　to　be　taken　care　of。　

What　with　sucking　honey　and　trying　to　open　the　door；　he　was　nearly　dated；

and　when　it　opened　in　the　morning　to　let　the　sun　see　the　tulip's　heart；

what　would　the　sun　have　thought　to　find　such　a　stupid　thing　lying　there

with　wings　too？〃



〃But　how　do　you　have　time　to　look　after　bees？〃



〃I　don't　look　after　bees。　　I　had　this　one　to　look　after。　

It　was　hard　work；　though。〃



〃Hard　work！　　Why；　you　could　blow　a　chimney　down；　oror　a　boy's

cap　off；〃　said　Diamond。



〃Both　are　easier　than　to　blow　a　tulip　open。　　But　I　scarcely　know

the　difference　between　hard　and　easy。　　I　am　always　able　for　what　I

have　to　do。　　When　I　see　my　work；　I　just　rush　at　itand　it　is　done。　

But　I　mustn't　chatter。　　I　have　got　to　sink　a　ship　to…night。〃



〃Sink　a　ship！　　What！　with　men　in　it？〃



〃Yes；　and　women　too。〃



〃How　dreadful！　　I　wish　you　wouldn't　talk　so。〃



〃It　is　rather　dreadful。　　But　it　is　my　work。　　I　must　do　it。〃



〃I　hope　you　won't　ask　me　to　go　with　you。〃



〃No；　I　won't　ask　you。　　But　you　must　come　for　all　that。〃



〃I　won't　then。〃



〃Won't　you？〃　　And　North　Wind　grew　a　tall　lady；　and　looked　him

in　the　eyes；　and　Diamond　said



〃Please　take　me。　　You　cannot　be　cruel。〃



〃No；　I　could　not　be　cruel　if　I　would。　　I　can　do　nothing　cruel；

although　I　often　do　what　looks　like　cruel　to　those　who　do　not　know

what　I　really　am　doing。　　The　people　they　say　I　drown；　I　only　carry

away　tototowell；　the　back　of　the　North　Windthat　is　what　they

used　to　call　it　long　ago；　only　I　never　saw　the　place。〃



〃How　can　you　carry　them　there　if　you　never　saw　it？〃



〃I　know　the　way。〃



〃But　how　is　it　you　never　saw　it？〃



〃Because　it　is　behind　me。〃



〃But　you　can　look　round。〃



〃Not　far　enough　to　see　my　own　back。　　No；　I　always　look　before　me。　

In　fact；　I　grow　quite　blind　and　deaf　when　I　try　to　see　my　back。　

I　only　mind　my　work。〃



〃But　how　does　it　be　your　work？〃



〃Ah；　that　I　can't　tell　you。　　I　only　know　it　is；　because　when　I　do　it

I　feel　all　right；　and　when　I　don't　I　feel　all　wrong。　　East　Wind　says

only　one　does　not　exactly　know　how　much　to　believe　of　what　she　says；

for　she　is　very　naughty　sometimesshe　says　it　is　all　managed

by　a　baby；　but　whether　she　is　good　or　naughty　when　she　says　that；

I　don't　know。　　I　just　stick　to　my　work。　　It　is　all　one　to　me　to

let　a　bee　out　of　a　tulip；　or　to　sweep　the　cobwebs　from　the　sky。　

You　would　like　to　go　with　me　to…night？〃



〃I　don't　want　to　see　a　ship　sunk。〃



〃But　suppose　I　had　to　take　you？〃



〃Why；　then；　of　course　I　must　go。〃



〃There's　a　good　Diamond。I　think　I　had　better　be　growing　a　bit。　

Only　you　must　go　to　bed　first。　　I　can't　take　you　till　you're　in　bed。　

That's　the　law　about　the　children。　　So　I　had　better　go　and　do　something

else　first。〃



〃Very　well；　North　Wind；〃　said　Diamond。　　〃What　are　you　going

to　do　first；　if　you　please？〃



〃I　think　I　may　tell　you。　　Jump　up　on　the　top　of　the　wall；　there。〃



〃I　can't。〃



〃Ah！　and　I　can't　help　youyou　haven't　been　to　bed　yet；　you　see。　

Come　out　to　the　road　with　me；　just　in　front　of　the　coach…house；　and　I

will　show　you。〃



North　Wind　grew　very　small　indeed；　so　small　that　she　could　not

have　blown　the　dust　off　a　dusty　miller；　as　the　Scotch　children

call　a　yellow　auricula。　　Diamond　could　not　even　see　the　blades

of　grass　move　as　she　flitted　along　by　his　foot。　　They　left　the　lawn；

went　out　by　the　wicket　in　the…coach…house　gates；　and　then　crossed

the　road　to　the　low　wall　that　separated　it　from　the　river。



〃You　can　get　up　on　this　wall；　Diamond；〃　said　North　Wind。



〃Yes；　but　my　mother　has　forbidden　me。〃



〃Then　don't；〃　said　North　Wind。



〃But　I　can　see　over；〃　said　Diamond。



〃Ah！　to　be　sure。　　I　can't。〃



So　saying；　North　Wind　gave　a　little　bound；　and　stood　on　the　top

of　the　wall。　　She　was　just　about　the　height　a　dragon…fly　would　be；

if　it　stood　on　end。



〃You　darling！〃　said　Diamond；　seeing　what　a　lovely　little　toy…woman

she　was。



〃Don't　be　impertinent；　Master　Diamond；〃　said　North　Wind。　

〃If　there's　one　thing　makes　me　more　angry　than　another；　it　is　the　way

you　humans　judge　things　by　their　size。　　I　am　quite　as　respectable

now　as　I　shall　be　six　hours　after　this；　when　I　take　an　East

Indiaman　by　the　royals；　twist　her　round；　and　push　her　under。　

You　have　no　right　to　address　me　in　such　a　fashion。〃



But　as　she　spoke；　the　tiny　face　wore　the　smile　of　a　great；　grand　woman。　

She　was　only　having　her　own　beautiful　fun　out　of　Diamond；　and　true

woman's　fun　never　hurts。



〃But　look　there！〃　she　resumed。　　〃Do　you　see　a　boat　with　one　man　in　it

a　green　and　white　boat？〃



〃Yes；　quite　well。〃



〃That's　a　poet。〃



〃I　thought　you　said　it　was　a　bo…at。〃



〃Stupid　pet！　　Don't　you　know　what　a　poet　is？〃



〃Why；　a　thing　to　sail　on　the　water　in。〃



〃Well；　perhaps　you're　not　so　far　wrong。　　Some　poets　do　carry

people　over　the　sea。　　But　I　have　no　business　to　talk　so　much。　

The　man　is　a　poet。〃



〃The　boat　is　a　boat；〃　said　Diamond。



〃Can't　you　spell？〃　asked　North　Wind。



〃Not　very　well。〃



〃So　I　see。　　A　poet　is　not　a　bo…at；　as　you　call　it。　　A　poet　is

a　man　who　is　glad　of　something；　and　tries　to　make　other　people

glad　of　it　too。〃



〃Ah！　now　I　know。　　Like　the　man　in　the　sweety…shop。〃



〃Not　very。　　But　I　see　it　is　no　use。　　I　wasn't　sent　to　tell　you；

and　so　I　can't　tell　you。　　I　must　be　off。　　Only　first　just　look　at

the　man。〃



〃He's　not　much　of　a　rower〃　said　Diamond〃paddling　first　with　one

fin　and　then　with　the　other。〃



〃Now　look　here！〃　said　North　Wind。



And　she　flashed　like　a　dragon…fly　across　the　water；　whose　surface

rippled　and　puckered　as　she　passed。　　The　next　moment　the　man

in　the　boat　glanced　about　him；　and　bent　to　his　oars。　　The　boat

flew　over　the　rippling　water。　　Man　and　boat　and　river　were　awake。　

The　same　instant　almost；　North　Wind　perched　again　upon　the　river　wall。



〃How　did　you　do　that？〃　asked　Diamond。



〃I　blew　in　his　face；〃　answered　North　Wind。　　〃I　don't　see　how

that　could　do　it；〃　said　Diamond。　　〃I　daresay　not。　　And　therefore

you　will　say　you　don't　believe　it　could。〃



〃No；　no；　dear　North　Wind。　　I　know　you　too　well　not