“What is that?” asked Diamond, smiling up in her face. “I won't tell you that name. Do you remember having to go through me to get into the country at my back?” “Oh yes, I do. How cold you were, North Wind! and so white, all but your lovely eyes! My heart grew like a lump of ice, and then I forgot for a while.” “You were very near knowing what they call me then. Would you be afraid of me if you had to go through me again?” “No. Why should I? Indeed I should be glad enough, if it was only to get another peep of the country at your back.” “You've never seen it yet.” “Haven't I, North Wind? Oh! I'm so sorry! I thought I had. What did I see then?” “Only a picture of it. 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?” “Don't you remember the dream you had about the little boys that dug for the stars?” “Yes, that I do. I thought you must have had something to do with that dream, it was so beautiful.” “Yes; I gave you that dream.” “Oh! thank you. Did you give Nanny her dream too--about the moon and the bees?” “Yes. I was the lady that sat at the window of the moon.” “Oh, thank you. I was almost sure you had something to do with that too. And did you tell Mr. Raymond the story about the Princess Daylight?” “I believe I had something to do with it. At all events he thought about it one night when he couldn't sleep. But I want to ask you whether you remember the song the boy-angels sang in that dream of yours.” “No. I couldn't keep it, do what I would, and I did try.” “That was my fault.” “How could that be, North Wind?” “Because I didn't know it properly myself, and so I couldn't teach it to you. I could only make a rough guess at something like what it would be, and so I wasn't able to make you dream it hard enough to remember it. Nor would I have done so if I could, for it was not correct. I made you dream pictures of it, though. But you will hear the very song itself when you do get to the back of----” “My own dear North Wind,” said Diamond, finishing the sentence for her, and kissing the arm that held him leaning against her. “And now we've settled all this--for the time, at least,” said North Wind. “But I can't feel quite sure yet,” said Diamond. “You must wait a while for that. Meantime you may be hopeful, and content not to be quite sure. Come now, I will take you home again, for it won't do to tire you too much.” “Oh, no, no. I'm not the least tired,” pleaded Diamond. “It is better, though.” “Very well; if you wish it,” yielded Diamond with a sigh. “You are a dear good, boy” said North Wind. “I will come for you again to-morrow night and take you out for a longer time. We shall make a little journey together, in fact, we shall start earlier, and as the moon will be later, we shall have a little moonlight all the way.”