as¡¡here¡£¡¡¡¡Nay£»¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡much¡¡worse¡¡if¡¡he¡¡had¡¡to¡¡think¡¡that¡¡the
window¡¡was¡¡nothing¡¡but¡¡a¡¡hole¡¡in¡¡the¡¡wall¡£
At¡¡the¡¡very¡¡moment¡¡when¡¡he¡¡burst¡¡out¡¡crying£»¡¡the¡¡old¡¡nurse¡¡who¡¡had
grown¡¡to¡¡be¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡family£»¡¡for¡¡she¡¡had¡¡not¡¡gone¡¡away¡¡when¡¡Miss
Coleman¡¡did¡¡not¡¡want¡¡any¡¡more¡¡nursing£»¡¡came¡¡to¡¡the¡¡back¡¡door£»
which¡¡was¡¡of¡¡glass£»¡¡to¡¡close¡¡the¡¡shutters¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡thought¡¡she¡¡heard
a¡¡cry£»¡¡and£»¡¡peering¡¡out¡¡with¡¡a¡¡hand¡¡on¡¡each¡¡side¡¡of¡¡her¡¡eyes
like¡¡Diamond's¡¡blinkers£»¡¡she¡¡saw¡¡something¡¡white¡¡on¡¡the¡¡lawn¡£¡¡
Too¡¡old¡¡and¡¡too¡¡wise¡¡to¡¡be¡¡frightened£»¡¡she¡¡opened¡¡the¡¡door£»
and¡¡went¡¡straight¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡white¡¡thing¡¡to¡¡see¡¡what¡¡it¡¡was¡£¡¡
And¡¡when¡¡Diamond¡¡saw¡¡her¡¡coming¡¡he¡¡was¡¡not¡¡frightened¡¡either£»
though¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Crump¡¡was¡¡a¡¡little¡¡cross¡¡sometimes£»¡¡for¡¡there¡¡is
a¡¡good¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡crossness¡¡that¡¡is¡¡only¡¡disagreeable£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡is
a¡¡bad¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡crossness¡¡that¡¡is¡¡very¡¡nasty¡¡indeed¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡she¡¡came
up¡¡with¡¡her¡¡neck¡¡stretched¡¡out£»¡¡and¡¡her¡¡head¡¡at¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡it£»
and¡¡her¡¡eyes¡¡foremost¡¡of¡¡all£»¡¡like¡¡a¡¡snail's£»¡¡peering¡¡into¡¡the¡¡night
to¡¡see¡¡what¡¡it¡¡could¡¡be¡¡that¡¡went¡¡on¡¡glimmering¡¡white¡¡before¡¡her¡£¡¡
When¡¡she¡¡did¡¡see£»¡¡she¡¡made¡¡a¡¡great¡¡exclamation£»¡¡and¡¡threw¡¡up
her¡¡hands¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡without¡¡a¡¡word£»¡¡for¡¡she¡¡thought¡¡Diamond¡¡was¡¡walking
in¡¡his¡¡sleep£»¡¡she¡¡caught¡¡hold¡¡of¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡led¡¡him¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡house¡£¡¡
He¡¡made¡¡no¡¡objection£»¡¡for¡¡he¡¡was¡¡just¡¡in¡¡the¡¡mood¡¡to¡¡be¡¡grateful
for¡¡notice¡¡of¡¡any¡¡sort£»¡¡and¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Crump¡¡led¡¡him¡¡straight¡¡into¡¡the
drawing¡room¡£
Now£»¡¡from¡¡the¡¡neglect¡¡of¡¡the¡¡new¡¡housemaid£»¡¡the¡¡fire¡¡in¡¡Miss
Coleman's¡¡bedroom¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡out£»¡¡and¡¡her¡¡mother¡¡had¡¡told¡¡her¡¡to¡¡brush
her¡¡hair¡¡by¡¡the¡¡drawing¡room¡¡firea¡¡disorderly¡¡proceeding¡¡which
a¡¡mother's¡¡wish¡¡could¡¡justify¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡young¡¡lady¡¡was¡¡very¡¡lovely£»
though¡¡not¡¡nearly¡¡so¡¡beautiful¡¡as¡¡North¡¡Wind£»¡¡and¡¡her¡¡hair¡¡was
extremely¡¡long£»¡¡for¡¡it¡¡came¡¡down¡¡to¡¡her¡¡kneesthough¡¡that¡¡was
nothing¡¡at¡¡all¡¡to¡¡North¡¡Wind's¡¡hair¡£¡¡¡¡Yet¡¡when¡¡she¡¡looked¡¡round£»
with¡¡her¡¡hair¡¡all¡¡about¡¡her£»¡¡as¡¡Diamond¡¡entered£»¡¡he¡¡thought
for¡¡one¡¡moment¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡North¡¡Wind£»¡¡and£»¡¡pulling¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡from
Mrs¡£¡¡Crump's£»¡¡he¡¡stretched¡¡out¡¡his¡¡arms¡¡and¡¡ran¡¡towards¡¡Miss¡¡Coleman¡£¡¡
She¡¡was¡¡so¡¡pleased¡¡that¡¡she¡¡threw¡¡down¡¡her¡¡brush£»¡¡and¡¡almost¡¡knelt
on¡¡the¡¡floor¡¡to¡¡receive¡¡him¡¡in¡¡her¡¡arms¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡next¡¡moment
that¡¡she¡¡was¡¡not¡¡Lady¡¡North¡¡Wind£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡looked¡¡so¡¡like¡¡her¡¡he¡¡could
not¡¡help¡¡running¡¡into¡¡her¡¡arms¡¡and¡¡bursting¡¡into¡¡tears¡¡afresh¡£¡¡
Mrs¡£¡¡Crump¡¡said¡¡the¡¡poor¡¡child¡¡had¡¡walked¡¡out¡¡in¡¡his¡¡sleep£»¡¡and¡¡Diamond
thought¡¡she¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡know£»¡¡and¡¡did¡¡not¡¡contradict¡¡her¡¡for¡¡anything
he¡¡knew£»¡¡it¡¡might¡¡be¡¡so¡¡indeed¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡let¡¡them¡¡talk¡¡on¡¡about¡¡him£»
and¡¡said¡¡nothing£»¡¡and¡¡when£»¡¡after¡¡their¡¡astonishment¡¡was¡¡over£»
and¡¡Miss¡¡Coleman¡¡had¡¡given¡¡him¡¡a¡¡sponge¡cake£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡decreed
that¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Crump¡¡should¡¡take¡¡him¡¡to¡¡his¡¡mother£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡quite¡¡satisfied¡£
His¡¡mother¡¡had¡¡to¡¡get¡¡out¡¡of¡¡bed¡¡to¡¡open¡¡the¡¡door¡¡when¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Crump
knocked¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡was¡¡indeed¡¡surprised¡¡to¡¡see¡¡her£»¡¡boy£»¡¡and¡¡having
taken¡¡him¡¡in¡¡her¡¡arms¡¡and¡¡carried¡¡him¡¡to¡¡his¡¡bed£»¡¡returned¡¡and
had¡¡a¡¡long¡¡confabulation¡¡with¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Crump£»¡¡for¡¡they¡¡were¡¡still
talking¡¡when¡¡Diamond¡¡fell¡¡fast¡¡asleep£»¡¡and¡¡could¡¡hear¡¡them¡¡no¡¡longer¡£
CHAPTER¡¡III
OLD¡¡DIAMOND
DIAMOND¡¡woke¡¡very¡¡early¡¡in¡¡the¡¡morning£»¡¡and¡¡thought¡¡what¡¡a¡¡curious
dream¡¡he¡¡had¡¡had¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡the¡¡memory¡¡grew¡¡brighter¡¡and¡¡brighter
in¡¡his¡¡head£»¡¡until¡¡it¡¡did¡¡not¡¡look¡¡altogether¡¡like¡¡a¡¡dream£»¡¡and¡¡he
began¡¡to¡¡doubt¡¡whether¡¡he¡¡had¡¡not¡¡really¡¡been¡¡abroad¡¡in¡¡the¡¡wind
last¡¡night¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡came¡¡to¡¡the¡¡conclusion¡¡that£»¡¡if¡¡he¡¡had¡¡really¡¡been
brought¡¡home¡¡to¡¡his¡¡mother¡¡by¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Crump£»¡¡she¡¡would¡¡say¡¡something
to¡¡him¡¡about¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡would¡¡settle¡¡the¡¡matter¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡he¡¡got
up¡¡and¡¡dressed¡¡himself£»¡¡but£»¡¡finding¡¡that¡¡his¡¡father¡¡and¡¡mother
were¡¡not¡¡yet¡¡stirring£»¡¡he¡¡went¡¡down¡¡the¡¡ladder¡¡to¡¡the¡¡stable¡£¡¡
There¡¡he¡¡found¡¡that¡¡even¡¡old¡¡Diamond¡¡was¡¡not¡¡awake¡¡yet£»¡¡for¡¡he£»
as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡young¡¡Diamond£»¡¡always¡¡got¡¡up¡¡the¡¡moment¡¡he¡¡woke£»¡¡and¡¡now
he¡¡was¡¡lying¡¡as¡¡flat¡¡as¡¡a¡¡horse¡¡could¡¡lie¡¡upon¡¡his¡¡nice¡¡trim¡¡bed
of¡¡straw¡£
¡¨I'll¡¡give¡¡old¡¡Diamond¡¡a¡¡surprise£»¡¨¡¡thought¡¡the£»¡¡boy£»¡¡and¡¡creeping
up¡¡very¡¡softly£»¡¡before¡¡the¡¡horse¡¡knew£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡astride¡¡of¡¡his¡¡back¡£¡¡
Then¡¡it¡¡was¡¡young¡¡Diamond's¡¡turn¡¡to¡¡have¡¡more¡¡of¡¡a¡¡surprise¡¡than¡¡he
had¡¡expected£»¡¡for¡¡as¡¡with¡¡an¡¡earthquake£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡rumbling¡¡and¡¡a¡¡rocking
hither¡¡and¡¡thither£»¡¡a¡¡sprawling¡¡of¡¡legs¡¡and¡¡heaving¡¡as¡¡of¡¡many¡¡backs£»
young¡¡Diamond¡¡found¡¡himself¡¡hoisted¡¡up¡¡in¡¡the¡¡air£»¡¡with¡¡both¡¡hands
twisted¡¡in¡¡the¡¡horse's¡¡mane¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡next¡¡instant¡¡old¡¡Diamond¡¡lashed
out¡¡with¡¡both¡¡his¡¡hind¡¡legs£»¡¡and¡¡giving¡¡one¡¡cry¡¡of¡¡terror¡¡young
Diamond¡¡found¡¡himself¡¡lying¡¡on¡¡his¡¡neck£»¡¡with¡¡his¡¡arms¡¡as¡¡far¡¡round
it¡¡as¡¡they¡¡would¡¡go¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡then¡¡the¡¡horse¡¡stood¡¡as¡¡still¡¡as¡¡a¡¡stone£»
except¡¡that¡¡he¡¡lifted¡¡his¡¡head¡¡gently¡¡up¡¡to¡¡let¡¡the¡¡boy¡¡slip¡¡down
to¡¡his¡¡back¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡when¡¡he¡¡heard¡¡young¡¡Diamond's¡¡cry¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡that
there¡¡was¡¡nothing¡¡to¡¡kick¡¡about£»¡¡for¡¡young¡¡Diamond¡¡was¡¡a¡¡good¡¡boy£»
and¡¡old¡¡Diamond¡¡was¡¡a¡¡good¡¡horse£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡one¡¡was¡¡all¡¡right¡¡on¡¡the
back¡¡of¡¡the¡¡other¡£
As¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡Diamond¡¡had¡¡got¡¡himself¡¡comfortable¡¡on¡¡the¡¡saddle¡¡place£»
the¡¡horse¡¡began¡¡pulling¡¡at¡¡the¡¡hay£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡boy¡¡began¡¡thinking¡£¡¡
He¡¡had¡¡never¡¡mounted¡¡Diamond¡¡himself¡¡before£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡had¡¡never¡¡got
off¡¡him¡¡without¡¡being¡¡lifted¡¡down¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡he¡¡sat£»¡¡while¡¡the¡¡horse¡¡ate£»
wondering¡¡how¡¡he¡¡was¡¡to¡¡reach¡¡the¡¡ground¡£
But¡¡while¡¡he¡¡meditated£»¡¡his¡¡mother¡¡woke£»¡¡and¡¡her¡¡first¡¡thought
was¡¡to¡¡see¡¡her¡¡boy¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡had¡¡visited¡¡him¡¡twice¡¡during¡¡the¡¡night£»
and¡¡found¡¡him¡¡sleeping¡¡quietly¡£¡¡¡¡Now¡¡his¡¡bed¡¡was¡¡empty£»¡¡and¡¡she
was¡¡frightened¡£
¡¨Diamond£¡¡¡¡¡Diamond£¡¡¡¡¡Where¡¡are¡¡you£»¡¡Diamond£¿¡¨¡¡she¡¡called¡¡out¡£
Diamond¡¡turned¡¡his¡¡head¡¡where¡¡he¡¡sat¡¡like¡¡a¡¡knight¡¡on¡¡his¡¡steed
in¡¡enchanted¡¡stall£»¡¡and¡¡cried¡¡aloud£»
¡¨Here£»¡¡mother£¡¡¨
¡¨Where£»¡¡Diamond£¿¡¨¡¡she¡¡returned¡£
¡¨Here£»¡¡mother£»¡¡on¡¡Diamond's¡¡back¡£¡¨
She¡¡came¡¡running¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ladder£»¡¡and¡¡peeping¡¡down£»¡¡saw¡¡him¡¡aloft
on¡¡the¡¡great¡¡horse¡£
¡¨Come¡¡down£»¡¡Diamond£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡£
¡¨I¡¡can't£»¡¨¡¡answered¡¡Diamond¡£
¡¨How¡¡did¡¡you¡¡get¡¡up£¿¡¨¡¡asked¡¡his¡¡mother¡£
¡¨Quite¡¡easily£»¡¨¡¡answered¡¡he£»¡¡¡¨but¡¡when¡¡I¡¡got¡¡up£»¡¡Diamond¡¡would¡¡get
up¡¡too£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡here¡¡I¡¡am¡£¡¨
His¡¡mother¡¡thought¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡walking¡¡in¡¡his¡¡sleep¡¡again£»¡¡and¡¡hurried
down¡¡the¡¡ladder¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡did¡¡not¡¡much¡¡like¡¡going¡¡up¡¡to¡¡the¡¡horse£»
for¡¡she¡¡had¡¡not¡¡been¡¡used¡¡to¡¡horses£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡would¡¡have¡¡gone
into¡¡a¡¡lion's¡¡den£»¡¡not¡¡to¡¡say¡¡a¡¡horse's¡¡stall£»¡¡to¡¡help¡¡her¡¡boy¡£¡¡
So¡¡she¡¡went¡¡and¡¡lifted¡¡him¡¡off¡¡Diamond's¡¡back£»¡¡and¡¡felt¡¡braver
all¡¡her¡¡life¡¡after¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡carried¡¡him¡¡in¡¡her¡¡arms¡¡up¡¡to¡¡her¡¡room£»
but£»¡¡afraid¡¡of¡¡frightening¡¡him¡¡at¡¡his¡¡own¡¡sleep¡walking£»¡¡as¡¡she
supposed¡¡it£»¡¡said¡¡nothing¡¡about¡¡last¡¡night¡£¡¡¡¡Before¡¡the¡¡next¡¡day
was¡¡over£»¡¡Diamond¡¡had¡¡almost¡¡concluded¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡adventure¡¡a¡¡dream¡£
For¡¡a¡¡week¡¡his¡¡mother¡¡watched¡¡him¡¡very¡¡carefullygoing¡¡into
the¡¡loft¡¡several¡¡times¡¡a¡¡nightas¡¡often£»¡¡in¡¡fact£»¡¡as¡¡she¡¡woke¡£¡¡
Every¡¡time¡¡she¡¡found¡¡him¡¡fast¡¡asleep¡£
All¡¡that¡¡week¡¡it¡¡was¡¡hard¡¡weather¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡grass¡¡showed¡¡white¡¡in¡¡the¡¡morning
with¡¡the¡¡hoar¡frost¡¡which¡¡clung¡¡like¡¡tiny¡¡comfits¡¡to¡¡every¡¡blade¡£¡¡
And¡¡as¡¡Diamond's¡¡shoes¡¡were¡¡not¡¡good£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡mother¡¡had¡¡not¡¡quite
saved¡¡up¡¡enough¡¡money¡¡to¡¡get¡¡him¡¡the¡¡new¡¡pair¡¡she¡¡so¡¡much¡¡wanted
for¡¡him£»¡¡she¡¡would¡¡not¡¡let¡¡him¡¡run¡¡out¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡played¡¡all¡¡his¡¡games
over¡¡and¡¡over¡¡indoors£»¡¡especially¡¡that¡¡of¡¡driving¡¡two¡¡chairs
harnessed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡baby's¡¡cradle£»¡¡and¡¡if¡¡they¡¡did¡¡not¡¡go¡¡very¡¡fast£»
they¡¡went¡¡as¡¡fast¡¡as¡¡could¡¡be¡¡expected¡¡of¡¡the¡¡best¡¡chairs¡¡in¡¡the¡¡world£»
although¡¡one¡¡of¡¡them¡¡had¡¡only¡¡three¡¡legs£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡other¡¡only¡¡half
a¡¡back¡£
At¡¡length¡¡his¡¡mother¡¡brought¡¡home¡¡his¡¡new¡¡shoes£»¡¡and¡¡no¡¡sooner
did¡¡she¡¡find¡¡they¡¡fitted¡¡him¡¡than¡¡she¡¡told¡¡him¡¡he¡¡might¡¡run
out¡¡in¡¡the¡¡yard¡¡and¡¡amuse¡¡himself¡¡for¡¡an¡¡hour¡£
The¡¡sun¡¡was¡¡going¡¡down¡¡when¡¡he¡¡flew¡¡from¡¡the¡¡door¡¡like¡¡a¡¡bird¡¡from
its¡¡cage¡£¡¡¡¡All¡¡the¡¡world¡¡was¡¡new¡¡to¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡great¡¡fire¡¡of¡¡sunset
burned¡¡on¡¡the¡¡top¡¡of¡¡the¡¡gate¡¡that¡¡led¡¡from¡¡the¡¡stables¡¡to¡¡the¡¡house£»
above¡¡the¡¡fire¡¡in¡¡the¡¡sky¡¡lay¡¡a¡¡large¡¡lake¡¡of¡¡green¡¡light£»¡¡above¡¡that
a¡¡golden¡¡cloud£»¡¡and¡¡over¡¡that¡¡the¡¡blue¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wintry¡¡heavens¡£¡¡
And¡¡Diamond¡¡thought¡¡that£»¡¡next¡¡to¡¡his¡¡own¡¡home£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡never¡¡seen
any¡¡place¡¡he¡¡would¡¡like¡¡so¡¡much¡¡to¡¡live¡¡in¡¡as¡¡that¡¡sky¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡it
is¡¡not¡¡fine¡¡things¡¡that¡¡make¡¡home¡¡a¡¡nice¡¡place£»¡¡but¡¡your¡¡mother
and¡¡your¡¡father¡£
As¡¡he¡¡was¡¡looking¡¡at¡¡the¡¡lovely¡¡colours£»¡¡the¡¡gates¡¡were¡¡thrown¡¡open£»
and¡¡there¡¡was¡¡old¡¡Diamond¡¡and¡¡his¡¡friend¡¡in¡¡the¡¡carriage£»¡¡dancing¡¡with
impatience¡¡to¡¡get¡¡at¡¡their¡¡stalls¡¡and¡¡their¡¡oats¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡in¡¡they¡¡came¡£¡¡
Diamond¡¡was¡¡not¡¡in¡¡the¡¡least¡¡afraid¡¡of¡¡his¡¡father¡¡driving¡¡over¡¡him£»
but£»¡¡careful¡¡not¡¡to¡¡spoil¡¡the¡¡grand¡¡show¡¡he¡¡made¡¡with¡¡his¡¡fine
horses¡¡and¡¡his¡¡multitudinous¡¡cape£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡red¡¡edge¡¡to¡¡every¡¡fold£»
he¡¡slipped¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡way¡¡and¡¡let¡¡him¡¡dash¡¡right¡¡on¡¡to¡¡the¡¡stables¡£¡¡
To¡¡be¡¡quite¡¡safe¡¡he¡¡had¡¡to¡¡step¡¡into¡¡the¡¡recess¡¡of¡¡the¡¡door¡¡that¡¡led
from¡¡the¡¡yard¡¡to¡¡the¡¡shrubbery¡£
As¡¡he¡¡stood¡¡there¡¡he¡¡remembered¡¡how¡¡the¡¡wind¡¡had¡¡driven¡¡him
to¡¡this¡¡same¡¡spot¡¡on¡¡the¡¡night¡¡of¡¡his¡¡dream¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡once¡¡more¡¡he
was¡¡almost¡¡sure¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡no¡¡dream¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡all¡¡events£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡go
in¡¡and¡¡see¡¡whether¡¡things¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡all¡¡now¡¡as¡¡they¡¡did¡¡then¡£¡¡