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he could go to sleep almost any time； if he only composed himself
and let the sleep come。 This time he went fast asleep as usual。
But he woke in the dim blue night。 The moon had vanished。
He thought he heard a knocking at his door。 〃Somebody wants me；〃
he said to himself； and jumping out of bed； ran to open it。
But there was no one there。 He closed it again； and； the noise
still continuing； found that another door in the room was rattling。
It belonged to a closet； he thought； but he had never been able
to open it。 The wind blowing in at the window must be shaking it。
He would go and see if it was so。
The door now opened quite easily； but to his surprise； instead of
a closet he found a long narrow room。 The moon； which was sinking
in the west； shone in at an open window at the further end。
The room was low with a coved ceiling； and occupied the whole top
of the house； immediately under the roof。 It was quite empty。
The yellow light of the half…moon streamed over the dark floor。
He was so delighted at the discovery of the strange； desolate；
moonlit place close to his own snug little room； that he began
to dance and skip about the floor。 The wind came in through
the door he had left open； and blew about him as he danced；
and he kept turning towards it that it might blow in his face。
He kept picturing to himself the many places； lovely and desolate；
the hill…sides and farm…yards and tree…tops and meadows；
over which it had blown on its way to The Mound。 And as he danced；
he grew more and more delighted with the motion and the wind；
his feet grew stronger； and his body lighter； until at length it
seemed as if he were borne up on the air； and could almost fly。
So strong did his feeling become； that at last he began to doubt
whether he was not in one of those precious dreams he had
so often had； in which he floated about on the air at will。
But something made him look up； and to his unspeakable delight；
he found his uplifted hands lying in those of North Wind；
who was dancing with him； round and round the long bare room；
her hair now falling to the floor； now filling the arched ceiling；
her eyes shining on him like thinking stars； and the sweetest of
grand smiles playing breezily about her beautiful mouth。 She was；
as so often before； of the height of a rather tall lady。 She did not
stoop in order to dance with him； but held his hands high in hers。
When he saw her； he gave one spring； and his arms were about her neck；
and her arms holding him to her bosom。 The same moment she swept
with him through the open window in at which the moon was shining；
made a circuit like a bird about to alight； and settled with him
in his nest on the top of the great beech…tree。 There she placed
him on her lap and began to hush him as if he were her own baby；
and Diamond was so entirely happy that he did not care to speak
a word。 At length； however； he found that he was going to sleep；
and that would be to lose so much； that； pleasant as it was； he could
not consent。
〃Please； dear North Wind；〃 he said； 〃I am so happy that I'm afraid
it's a dream。 How am I to know that it's not a dream？〃
〃What does it matter？〃 returned North Wind。
〃I should； cry〃 said Diamond。
〃But why should you cry？ The dream； if it is a dream； is a pleasant one
is it not？〃
〃That's just why I want it to be true。〃
〃Have you forgotten what you said to Nanny about her dream？〃
〃It's not for the dream itselfI mean； it's not for the pleasure
of it；〃 answered Diamond； 〃for I have that； whether it be a dream
or not； it's for you； North Wind； I can't bear to find it a dream；
because then I should lose you。 You would be nobody then； and I
could not bear that。 You ain't a dream； are you； dear North Wind？
Do say No； else I shall cry； and come awake； and you'll be gone for ever。
I daren't dream about you once again if you ain't anybody。〃
〃I'm either not a dream； or there's something better that's not
a dream； Diamond；〃 said North Wind； in a rather sorrowful tone；
he thought。
〃But it's not something betterit's you I want； North Wind；〃
he persisted； already beginning to cry a little。
She made no answer； but rose with him in her arms and sailed away
over the tree…tops till they came to a meadow； where a flock
of sheep was feeding。
〃Do you remember what the song you were singing a week ago says
about Bo…Peephow she lost her sheep； but got twice as many lambs？〃
asked North Wind； sitting down on the grass； and placing him in her
lap as before。
〃Oh yes； I do； well enough；〃 answered Diamond； 〃but I never just
quite liked that rhyme。〃
〃Why not； child？〃
〃Because it seems to say one's as good as another； or two new ones
are better than one that's lost。 I've been thinking about it
a great deal； and it seems to me that although any one sixpence
is as good as any other sixpence； not twenty lambs would do instead
of one sheep whose face you knew。 Somehow； when once you've
looked into anybody's eyes； right deep down into them； I mean；
nobody will do for that one any more。 Nobody； ever so beautiful
or so good； will make up for that one going out of sight。
So you see； North Wind； I can't help being frightened to think
that perhaps I am only dreaming； and you are nowhere at all。
Do tell me that you are my own； real； beautiful North Wind。〃
Again she rose； and shot herself into the air； as if uneasy
because she could not answer him； and Diamond lay quiet in her arms；
waiting for what she would say。 He tried to see up into her face；
for he was dreadfully afraid she was not answering him because she
could not say that she was not a dream； but she had let her hair
fall all over her face so that he could not see it。 This frightened
him still more。
〃Do speak； North Wind；〃 he said at last。
〃I never speak when I have nothing to say；〃 she replied。
〃Then I do think you must be a real North Wind； and no dream；〃
said Diamond。
〃But I'm looking for something to say all the time。〃
〃But I don't want you to say what's hard to find。 If you were
to say one word to comfort me that wasn't true； then I should know
you must be a dream； for a great beautiful lady like you could
never tell a lie。〃
〃But she mightn't know how to say what she had to say； so that
a little boy like you would understand it；〃 said North Wind。
〃Here； let us get down again； and I will try to tell you what I think。
You musn't suppose I am able to answer all your questions； though。
There are a great many things I don't understand more than you do。〃
She descended on a grassy hillock； in the midst of a wild furzy common。
There was a rabbit…warren underneath； and some of the rabbits came
out of their holes； in the moonlight； looking very sober and wise；
just like patriarchs standing in their tent…doors； and looking
about them before going to bed。 When they saw North Wind；
instead of turning round a