At the Back of the North Wind

towards London, Diamond s

d, North Win

ile; "I am only getting ready to sweep one of my rooms. Thos

l her body, her hair also grew-longer and longer, and lifted itself from her head, and went out in black waves. The next moment, however, it fell back around her, and she grew less and less till she was onl

if I were to drop you, I don't know what might happen;

at him, he believed like a baby. She took him in her hands

oven nest. It was just like a pocket, or like the shawl in which gipsy women carry their chil

omfortable

ed," answe

o the place of the clouds. Her hair went streaming out from her, till i

reen grass hurried away beneath. A great roar of wild animals rose as they rushed over the Zoological Gardens, mixed with a chattering of monkeys and a screaming of birds; but it died away in a moment behind them. And now there was nothing but the roofs of houses, sweeping along like a great torrent of stones and rocks. Chimney-pots fell, and

like a fierce torrent of rocks instead of water. Then he looked up to the sky, but could see no stars; they were hidden by the

nd," he said, "wh

ame the voice of North Wi

oman that sweeps the cobwebs from the

ses look as if they

ing so fast

big, but I didn't know it was so big as this. I

round, else we should

way you sweep

and round with

ing a little slower, for I

't see m

hy

nearly swept all

nd was quiet after that, for he

ould see down into the streets. There were very few people about, thoug

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

," he cried, "won't you

I mustn't le

ldn't you be

I am sweeping the w

orth Wind. Why shouldn't you be

y can't be done to all the same. Ever

hy I should be kin

, you silly! It's all right. Of course you can help her if you l

, then. But you won't b

it yourself. And, mind, the win

t me to help h

ou break down and cry, that won't be much of a help

d. "Only there's just one t

s you had better go with me. I am bou

ter the little girl. "I'm sure the wind will blo

ly along the line of the street.

earer and nearer to the tops of the houses, "I can promise you it will be all ri

little girl," sa

k a step, and at once towered in stature to the height of the houses. A chimney-pot clashed at Diamond's feet. He turned in terror, but it was to look for the little girl, and when he turned again the lady had vanished, and the wind was roaring along the street as if it had been the bed of an invisible torrent.

irl," shouted Diamond

e girl, "the wind wo

and, and away went the little girl. So he had to run again, and this time he ran so fast that he got before her, and turning

ad stuck farthest out. The arm it belonged to was twined round

said, gaspin

go with you,"

or the wind blew worse than ever, and th

ossing?" asked th

eep," answe

asked she. "You ain't bi

feeling rather ashamed. "Nothing, I supp

taring at him as if a boy with a

t you?" retu

Old Sal's all I've got."

r if she wasn't good

must go s

he voice of a pol

girl. "You must go somewhe

doesn't beat

h she

?" asked Diamond,

ldn't lie abed a-cuddlin' of her ugly old bo

she won't let

good chance

t so late, then

the West End, and I had been in

try anyhow," said Di

rning a corner in front of them; and when they turned the corner

id, taking her hand, "an

ad enough to do with her broom. She put it in his again, and led him, turning after

ke to live here

where else to go to," answered the

t to go in,"

you mean t

to my

e's t

t exact

e worse off

began Diamond, and stop

, as she held her ear

not reply. Nei

rl. "She is wide awake heark

u do, then?"

," she a

he

. Bless you, I

tter come home

when you don't know w

whe

s in particu

waste kind of place. By this time they were both very tired. Diamond felt a good deal inclined to cry, and thought he had been very silly to get down from the back of North Wind; not that he would have minded it if he had

est a bit,"

e's something like a railway the

, and, better still, there was an

's the jolliest bed going-on the tramp, I mean

put their arms round each other, and when he began

y!" he said.

sed to it, I suppose. But I can't think how a kid li

nth older than he was; only she had had to work f

I hadn't got down to help you," said Dia

Asylms," said the girl. "You said something about th

s character, Diamond had t

me a great blast of wind through the arch, and set the barrel rolling. So they made haste to get out of it, for they ha

aid Diamond; "but I can't say I'm very sl

ng on a door-step, but always turning in

en things in general, from garden rollers to flower-pots and wine-bottles. But the moment they reached the brow of the rising ground, a gust of wind seized them and blew them down hill as fast as they

I am in master's garden! I tell you what, little girl, you just bore a hole in old Sal's wall, and put you

out in the wind too often

the North Win

all

not al

s all

know

. I'll box your ea

, he musn't box hers again, for she was a girl, and all that boys must do,

mister" sai

t Diamond t

aid. "Come in, and my mother

t be off to my crossi

ry for you,"

red of-what with old Sal, an

so good. I shou

always wait till next is over. Well! I suppose there's somebody happy somewheres. But it ai

he door as he best could, and ran through the kitchen-garden to th