Chapter XII. Who Met Diamond At Sandwich

           AsTHEYflew,sofasttheywentthattheseaslidawayfromunderthemlikeagreatwebofshotsilk,blueshotwithgrey,andgreenshotwithpurple.Theywentsofastthatthestarsthemselvesappearedtosailawaypastthemoverhead,“likegoldenboats,”onablueseaturnedupsidedown.AndtheywentsofastthatDiamondhimselfwenttheotherwayasfast—ImeanhewentfastasleepinNorthWind’sarms.

           Whenhewoke,afacewasbendingoverhim;butitwasnotNorthWind’s;itwashismother’s.Heputouthisarmstoher,andsheclaspedhimtoherbosomandburstoutcrying.Diamondkissedheragainandagaintomakeherstop.Perhapskissingisthebestthingforcrying,butitwillnotalwaysstopit.

           “Whatisthematter,mother?”hesaid.

           “Oh,Diamond,mydarling!youhavebeensoill!”shesobbed.

           “No,motherdear.I’veonlybeenatthebackofthenorthwind,”returnedDiamond.

           “Ithoughtyouweredead,”saidhismother.

           Butthatmomentthedoctorcamein.

           “Oh!there!”saidthedoctorwithgentlecheerfulness;“we’rebetterto-day,Isee.”

           Thenhedrewthemotheraside,andtoldhernottotalktoDiamond,ortomindwhathemightsay;forhemustbekeptasquietaspossible.AndindeedDiamondwasnotmuchinclinedtotalk,forhefeltverystrangeandweak,whichwaslittlewonder,seeingthatallthetimehehadbeenawayhehadonlysuckedafewlumpsofice,andtherecouldnotbemuchnourishmentinthem.