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小说: at the back of the north wind 字数: 每页4000字

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That's when they're fairly at it。  However; the boat got to a desert

island before noon next day。〃



〃And what good will come of that?〃



〃I don't know。  I obeyed orders。  Good bye。〃



〃Oh! stay; North Wind; do stay!〃 cried Diamond; dismayed to see

the windmill get slower and slower。



〃What is it; my dear child?〃 said North Wind; and the windmill

began turning again so swiftly that Diamond could scarcely see it。 

〃What a big voice you've got! and what a noise you do make with it? 

What is it you want?  I have little to do; but that little must

be done。〃



〃I want you to take me to the country at the back of the north wind。〃



〃That's not so easy;〃 said North Wind; and was silent for so long

that Diamond thought she was gone indeed。  But after he had quite

given her up; the voice began again。



〃I almost wish old Herodotus had held his tongue about it。 

Much he knew of it!〃



〃Why do you wish that; North Wind?〃



〃Because then that clergyman would never have heard of it; and set

you wanting to go。  But we shall see。  We shall see。  You must go

home now; my dear; for you don't seem very well; and I'll see what

can be done for you。  Don't wait for me。  I've got to break a few

of old Goody's toys; she's thinking too much of her new stock。 

Two or three will do。  There! go now。〃



Diamond rose; quite sorry; and without a word left the shop;

and went home。



It soon appeared that his mother had been right about him;

for that same afternoon his head began to ache very much; and he

had to go to bed。



He awoke in the middle of the night。  The lattice window of his room

had blown open; and the curtains of his little bed were swinging

about in the wind。



〃If that should be North Wind now!〃 thought Diamond。



But the next moment he heard some one closing the window;

and his aunt came to his bedside。  She put her hand on his face;

and said



〃How's your head; dear?〃



〃Better; auntie; I think。〃



〃Would you like something to drink?〃



〃Oh; yes!  I should; please。〃



So his aunt gave him some lemonade; for she had been used

to nursing sick people; and Diamond felt very much refreshed;

and laid his head down again to go very fast asleep; as he thought。 

And so he did; but only to come awake again; as a fresh burst of wind

blew the lattice open a second time。  The same moment he found

himself in a cloud of North Wind's hair; with her beautiful face;

set in it like a moon; bending over him。



〃Quick; Diamond!〃 she said。  〃I have found such a chance!〃



〃But I'm not well;〃 said Diamond。



〃I know that; but you will be better for a little fresh air。 

You shall have plenty of that。〃



〃You want me to go; then?〃



〃Yes; I do。  It won't hurt you。〃



〃Very well;〃 said Diamond; and getting out of the bed…clothes; he

jumped into North Wind's arms。



〃We must make haste before your aunt comes;〃 said she; as she

glided out of the open lattice and left it swinging。



The moment Diamond felt her arms fold around him he began to

feel better。  It was a moonless night; and very dark; with glimpses

of stars when the clouds parted。



〃I used to dash the waves about here;〃 said North Wind; 〃where cows

and sheep are feeding now; but we shall soon get to them。 

There they are。〃



And Diamond; looking down; saw the white glimmer of breaking water

far below him。



〃You see; Diamond;〃 said North Wind; 〃it is very difficult for me

to get you to the back of the north wind; for that country lies

in the very north itself; and of course I can't blow northwards。〃



〃Why not?〃 asked Diamond。



〃You little silly!〃 said North Wind。  〃Don't you see that if I

were to blow northwards I should be South Wind; and that is as much

as to say that one person could be two persons?〃



〃But how can you ever get home at all; then?〃



〃You are quite rightthat is my home; though I never get farther than

the outer door。  I sit on the doorstep; and hear the voices inside。 

I am nobody there; Diamond。〃



〃I'm very sorry。〃



〃Why?〃



〃That you should be nobody。〃



〃Oh; I don't mind it。  Dear little man! you will be very glad some

day to be nobody yourself。  But you can't understand that now;

and you had better not try; for if you do; you will be certain to go

fancying some egregious nonsense; and making yourself miserable

about it。〃



〃Then I won't;〃 said Diamond。



〃There's a good boy。  It will all come in good time。〃



〃But you haven't told me how you get to the doorstep; you know。〃



〃It is easy enough for me。  I have only to consent to be nobody;

and there I am。  I draw into myself and there I am on the doorstep。 

But you can easily see; or you have less sense than I think;

that to drag you; you heavy thing; along with me; would take centuries;

and I could not give the time to it。〃



〃Oh; I'm so sorry!〃 said Diamond。



〃What for now; pet?〃



〃That I'm so heavy for you。  I would be lighter if I could; but I

don't know how。〃



〃You silly darling!  Why; I could toss you a hundred miles from me

if I liked。  It is only when I am going home that I shall find

you heavy。〃



〃Then you are going home with me?〃



〃Of course。  Did I not come to fetch you just for that?〃



〃But all this time you must be going southwards。〃



〃Yes。  Of course I am。〃



〃How can you be taking me northwards; then?〃



〃A very sensible question。  But you shall see。  I will get

rid of a few of these cloudsonly they do come up so fast! 

It's like trying to blow a brook dry。  There!  What do you see now?〃



〃I think I see a little boat; away there; down below。〃



〃A little boat; indeed!  Well!  She's a yacht of two hundred tons;

and the captain of it is a friend of mine; for he is a man of

good sense; and can sail his craft well。  I've helped him many

a time when he little thought it。  I've heard him grumbling at me;

when I was doing the very best I could for him。  Why; I've carried

him eighty miles a day; again and again; right north。〃



〃He must have dodged for that;〃 said Diamond; who had been watching

the vessels; and had seen that they went other ways than the wind blew。



〃Of course he must。  But don't you see; it was the best I could do? 

I couldn't be South Wind。  And besides it gave him a share in

the business。  It is not good at allmind that; Diamondto do

everything for those you love; and not give them a share in the doing。 


It's not kind。  It's making too much of yourself; my child。 

If I had been South Wind; he would only have smoked his pipe all day;

and made himself stupid。〃



〃But how could he be a man of sense and grumble at you when you

were doing your best for him?〃



〃Oh! you must make allowances;〃 said North Wind; 〃or you will never

do justice to anybody。You do understand; then; that a captain

may sail north〃



〃In spite of a north windyes;〃 supplemented Diamond。



〃Now; I do think you must be stupid; my; dear〃 said North Wind。 

〃Suppose the north wind did not blow where would he be then?〃



〃Why then the south wind would carry him。〃



〃So you think that when the north wind stops the south wind blows。 

Nonsense。  If I didn't blow; the captain couldn't sail his eighty

miles a day。  No doubt South Wind would carry him faster; but South

Wind is sitting on her doorstep then; and if I stopped there would

be a dead calm。  So you are all wrong to say he can sail north

in spite of me; he sails north by my help; and my help alone。 

You see that; Diamond?〃



〃Yes; I do; North Wind。  I am stupid; but I don't want to be stupid。〃



〃Good boy!  I am going to blow you north in that little craft; one of

the finest that ever sailed the sea。  Here we are; right over it。 

I shall be blowing against you; you will be sailing against me;

and all will be just as we want it。  The captain won't get on

so fast as he would like; but he will get on; and so shall we。 

I'm just going to put you on board。  Do you see in front of the tiller

that thing the man is working; now to one side; now to the other

a round thing like the top of a drum?〃



〃Yes;〃 said Diamond。



〃Below that is where they keep their spare sails; and some stores

of that sort。  I am going to blow that cover off。  The same moment

I will drop you on deck; and you must tumble in。  Don't be afraid;

it is of no depth; and you will fall on sail…cloth。 You will find it

nice and warm and dry…only dark; and you will know I am near you by

every roll and pitch of the vessel。  Coil yourself up and go to sleep。 

The yacht shall be my cradle and you shall be my baby。〃



〃Thank you; dear North Wind。  I am not a bit afraid;〃 said Diamond。



In a moment they were on a level with the bulwarks; and North Wind

sent the hatch of the after…store rattling away over the deck

to leeward。  The next; Diamond found himself in the dark; for he

had tumbled through the hole as North Wind had told him; 

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