"Yes, for I should know you were still beautiful inside, and that you loved me still. I should not like you to look ugly, you know. And I shouldn't believe it was really you a bit!" "That's my own Diamond! Then I will try to tell you all I know about it. I don't think I am just what you fancy me to be. I have to shape myself in various ways to various people. But the heart of me is true. People call me by dreadful names and think they know all about me. But they don't. Sometimes they call me Bad Fortune or Evil Chance or Ruin--as Mr. Evans did when I sank his ship. Then people have another name for me which they think the most dreadful of all." "What is that?" asked Diamond smiling up in her face. "And does it only mean another way in which you do them good though they think you are doing them ill?" "Yes," answered North Wind, "it is just like that. But I will not tell you that name--not just now. Only will you always remember, if you should hear it, not to be the least afraid of it--or of me? Will you promise, Diamond?" "Yes, North Wind, I promise," said Diamond. "I will never be afraid of you." "Do you remember having to go through me to get into the country at my back?" asked North Wind, "after the long, long, long ride in the ship and the journey on the iceberg?" "Yes, yes, I do! How tired you were, North Wind, when we got at last on to the iceberg and South Wind began to blow! And how thin and weak you grew in the beautiful blue cave in the side of the ice. Afterward when I landed and found you in the cleft in the ice ridge, sitting on your own door-step, how cold you were, North Wind! And so white, all but your lovely eyes! When I went up close to you, my own heart grew like a lump of ice. And when I tried to clasp you, the white grew so thick all about me, and then I forgot for a while." "You were very near then, Diamond, to knowing what my other name is. But did I hurt you at all, dear boy? Would you be afraid of me if you had to go through me again?" "No. Why should I? It was delicious to forget like that! It was like going into the softest and sweetest sleep! I should be glad enough to do it again, if it was only to get another peep at the country at your back." "But you did not then see the real country at the back of the north wind, Diamond," said North Wind. "Didn't I, North Wind? Oh, I'm so sorry! I thought I did. What did I see?" "Only a picture of it--a sort of vision of it--and only while you seemed to be asleep. The real country at my real back is ever so much more beautiful than that. You shall see it one day--perhaps before very long." "Do they sing songs there?" asked Diamond. "Yes," replied North Wind. "You have not forgotten the lovely river as clear as glass that ran over and through the grass and flowers, have you? Nor the soft sweet songs it was always singing?"