At the Back of the North Wind (Illustrated Edition). George MacDonald

did then. He opened the door, and passed through the little belt of shrubbery. Not a flower was to be seen in the beds on the lawn. Even the brave old chrysanthemums and Christmas roses had passed away before the frost. What? Yes! There was one! He ran and knelt down to look at it.

      It was a primrose—a dwarfish thing, but perfect in shape—a baby-wonder. As he stooped his face to see it close, a little wind began to blow, and two or three long leaves that stood up behind the flower shook and waved and quivered, but the primrose lay still in the green hollow, looking up at the sky, and not seeming to know that the wind was blowing at all. It was just a one eye that the dull black wintry earth had opened to look at the sky with. All at once Diamond thought it was saying its prayers, and he ought not to be staring at it so. He ran to the stable to see his father make Diamond's bed. Then his father took him in his arms, carried him up the ladder, and set him down at the table where they were going to have their tea.

      "Miss is very poorly," said Diamond's father. "Mis'ess has been to the doctor with her to-day, and she looked very glum when she came out again. I was a-watching of them to see what doctor had said."

      "And didn't Miss look glum too?" asked his mother.

      "Not half as glum as Mis'ess," returned the coachman. "You see—"

      But he lowered his voice, and Diamond could not make out more than a word here and there. For Diamond's father was not only one of the finest of coachmen to look at, and one of the best of drivers, but one of the most discreet of servants as well. Therefore he did not talk about family affairs to any one but his wife, whom he had proved better than himself long ago, and was careful that even Diamond should hear nothing he could repeat again concerning master and his family.

      It was bed-time soon, and Diamond went to bed and fell fast asleep.

      He awoke all at once, in the dark.

      "Open the window, Diamond," said a voice.

      Now Diamond's mother had once more pasted up North Wind's window.

      "Are you North Wind?" said Diamond: "I don't hear you blowing."

      "No; but you hear me talking. Open the window, for I haven't overmuch time."

      "Yes," returned Diamond. "But, please, North Wind, where's the use? You left me all alone last time."

      He had got up on his knees, and was busy with his nails once more at the paper over the hole in the wall. For now that North Wind spoke again, he remembered all that had taken place before as distinctly as if it had happened only last night.

      "Yes, but that was your fault," returned North Wind. "I had work to do; and, besides, a gentleman should never keep a lady waiting."

      "But I'm not a gentleman," said Diamond, scratching away at the paper.

      "I hope you won't say so ten years after this."

      "I'm going to be a coachman, and a coachman is not a gentleman," persisted Diamond.

      "We call your father a gentleman in our house," said North Wind.

      "He doesn't call himself one," said Diamond.

      "That's of no consequence: every man ought to be a gentleman, and your father is one."

      Diamond was so pleased to hear this that he scratched at the paper like ten mice, and getting hold of the edge of it, tore it off. The next instant a young girl glided across the bed, and stood upon the floor.

      "Oh dear!" said Diamond, quite dismayed; "I didn't know—who are you, please?"

      "I'm North Wind."

      "Are you really?"

      "Yes. Make haste."

      "But you're no bigger than me."

      "Do you think I care about how big or how little I am? Didn't you see me this evening? I was less then."

      "No. Where was you?"

      "Behind the leaves of the primrose. Didn't you see them blowing?"

      "Yes."

      "Make haste, then, if you want to go with me."

      "But you are not big enough to take care of me. I think you are only Miss North Wind."

      "I am big enough to show you the way, anyhow. But if you won't come, why, you must stay."

      "I must dress myself. I didn't mind with a grown lady, but I couldn't go with a little girl in my night-gown."

      "Very well. I'm not in such a hurry as I was the other night. Dress as fast as you can, and I'll go and shake the primrose leaves till you come."

      "Don't hurt it," said Diamond.

      North Wind broke out in a little laugh like the breaking of silver bubbles, and was gone in a moment. Diamond saw—for it was a starlit night, and the mass of hay was at a low ebb now—the gleam of something vanishing down the stair, and, springing out of bed, dressed himself as fast as ever he could. Then he crept out into the yard, through the door in the wall, and away to the primrose. Behind it stood North Wind, leaning over it, and looking at the flower as if she had been its mother.

      "Come along," she said, jumping up and holding out her hand.

      Diamond took her hand. It was cold, but so pleasant and full of life, it was better than warm. She led him across the garden. With one bound she was on the top of the wall. Diamond was left at the foot.

      "Stop, stop!" he cried. "Please, I can't jump like that."

      "You don't try" said North Wind, who from the top looked down a foot taller than before.

      "Give me your hand again, and I will, try" said Diamond.

      She reached down, Diamond laid hold of her hand, gave a great spring, and stood beside her.

      "This is nice!" he said.

      Another bound, and they stood in the road by the river. It was full tide, and the stars were shining clear in its depths, for it lay still, waiting for the turn to run down again to the sea. They walked along its side. But they had not walked far before its surface was covered with ripples, and the stars had vanished from its bosom.

      And North Wind was now tall as a full-grown girl. Her hair was flying about her head, and the wind was blowing a breeze down the river. But she turned aside and went up a narrow lane, and as she went her hair fell down around her.

      "I have some rather disagreeable work to do to-night," she said, "before I get out to sea, and I must set about it at once. The disagreeable work must be looked after first."

      So saying, she laid hold of Diamond and began to run, gliding along faster and faster. Diamond kept up with her as well as he could. She made many turnings and windings, apparently because it was not quite easy to get him over walls and houses. Once they ran through a hall where they found back and front doors open. At the foot of the stair North Wind stood still, and Diamond, hearing a great growl, started in terror, and there, instead of North Wind, was a huge wolf by his side. He let go his hold in dismay, and the wolf bounded up the stair. The windows of the house rattled and shook as if guns were firing, and the sound of a great fall came from above. Diamond stood with white face staring up at the landing.

      "Surely," he thought, "North Wind can't be eating one of the children!" Coming to himself all at once, he rushed after her with his little fist clenched. There were ladies in long trains going up and down the stairs, and gentlemen in white neckties attending on them, who stared at him, but none of them were of the people of the house, and they said nothing. Before he reached the head of the stair, however, North Wind met him, took him by the hand, and hurried down and out of the house.

      "I hope you haven't eaten a baby, North Wind!" said Diamond, very solemnly.

      North Wind laughed merrily, and went tripping on faster. Her grassy robe swept and swirled about her steps, and wherever it passed over withered leaves, they went fleeing and whirling in spirals, and running on their edges like wheels, all about her feet.

      "No," she said at last, "I did