Chapter IV. North Wind

           ANDasshestoodlookingtowardsLondon,Diamondsawthatshewastrembling.

           “Areyoucold,NorthWind?”heasked.

           “No,Diamond,”sheanswered,lookingdownuponhimwithasmile;“Iamonlygettingreadytosweeponeofmyrooms.Thosecareless,greedy,untidychildrenmakeitinsuchamess.”

           Asshespokehecouldhavetoldbyhervoice,ifhehadnotseenwithhiseyes,thatshewasgrowinglargerandlarger.Herheadwentupanduptowardsthestars;andasshegrew,stilltremblingthroughallherbody,herhairalsogrew—longerandlonger,andlifteditselffromherhead,andwentoutinblackwaves.Thenextmoment,however,itfellbackaroundher,andshegrewlessandlesstillshewasonlyatallwoman.Thensheputherhandsbehindherhead,andgatheredsomeofherhair,andbeganweavingandknottingittogether.Whenshehaddone,shebentdownherbeautifulfaceclosetohis,andsaid—

           “Diamond,Iamafraidyouwouldnotkeepholdofme,andifIweretodropyou,Idon’tknowwhatmighthappen;soIhavebeenmakingaplaceforyouinmyhair.Come.”

           Diamondheldouthisarms,forwiththatgrandfacelookingathim,hebelievedlikeababy.Shetookhiminherhands,threwhimoverhershoulder,andsaid,“Getin,Diamond.”

           AndDiamondpartedherhairwithhishands,creptbetween,andfeelingaboutsoonfoundthewovennest.Itwasjustlikeapocket,orliketheshawlinwhichgipsywomencarrytheirchildren.NorthWindputherhandstoherback,feltallaboutthenest,andfindingitsafe,said—

           “Areyoucomfortable,Diamond?”

           “Yes,indeed,”answeredDiamond.