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at the back of the north wind-第52节

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both in one。〃



〃But what's the good of talking about it that way; when you know

it was only a dream?  Dreams ain't true。〃



〃That one was true; Nanny。  You know it was。  Didn't you come to

grief for doing what you were told not to do?  And isn't that true?〃



〃I can't get any sense into him;〃 exclaimed Nanny; with an expression

of mild despair。  〃Do you really believe; Diamond; that there's

a house in the moon; with a beautiful lady and a crooked old man

and dusters in it?〃



〃If there isn't; there's something better;〃 he answered; and vanished

in the leaves over our heads。



I went into the house; where I visited often in the evenings。 

When I came out; there was a little wind blowing; very pleasant

after the heat of the day; for although it was late summer now;

it was still hot。  The tree…tops were swinging about in it。 

I took my way past the beech; and called up to see if Diamond were

still in his nest in its rocking head。



〃Are you there; Diamond?〃  I said。



〃Yes; sir;〃 came his clear voice in reply。



〃Isn't it growing too dark for you to get down safely?〃



〃Oh; no; sirif I take time to it。  I know my way so well;

and never let go with one hand till I've a good hold with the other。〃



〃Do be careful;〃 I insistedfoolishly; seeing the boy was as careful

as he could be already。



〃I'm coming;〃 he returned。  〃I've got all the moon I want to…night。〃





I heard a rustling and a rustling drawing nearer and nearer。 

Three or four minutes elapsed; and he appeared at length creeping

down his little ladder。  I took him in my arms; and set him on

the ground。



〃Thank you; sir;〃 he said。  〃That's the north wind blowing;

isn't it; sir?〃



〃I can't tell;〃 I answered。  〃It feels cool and kind; and I think

it may be。  But I couldn't be sure except it were stronger; for a

gentle wind might turn any way amongst the trunks of the trees。〃



〃I shall know when I get up to my own room;〃 said Diamond。 

〃I think I hear my mistress's bell。  Good…night; sir。〃



He ran to the house; and I went home。



His mistress had rung for him only to send him to bed; for she was

very careful over him and I daresay thought he was not looking well。 

When he reached his own room; he opened both his windows;

one of which looked to the north and the other to the east; to find

how the wind blew。  It blew right in at the northern window。 

Diamond was very glad; for he thought perhaps North Wind herself

would come now:  a real north wind had never blown all the time

since he left London。  But; as she always came of herself;

and never when he was looking for her; and indeed almost never when

he was thinking of her; he shut the east window; and went to bed。 

Perhaps some of my readers may wonder that he could go to sleep with

such an expectation; and; indeed; if I had not known him; I should

have wondered at it myself; but it was one of his peculiarities;

and seemed nothing strange in him。  He was so full of quietness that

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 y

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