o turn to an ugly shape again, would you still wish I
were not a dream?"

"Yes, for I should know you were still beautiful inside, and that you
loved me still. I should not like you to look ugly, you know. And I
shouldn't believe it was really you a bit!"

"That's my own Diamond! Then I will try to tell you all I know about it.
I don't think I am just what you fancy me to be. I have to shape myself
in various ways to various people. But the heart of me is true. People
call me by dreadful names and think they know all about me. But they
don't. Sometimes they call me Bad Fortune or Evil Chance or Ruin--as Mr.
Evans did when I sank his ship. Then people have another name for me
which they think the most dreadful of all."

"What is that?" asked Diamond smiling up in her face. "And does it only
mean another way in which you do them good though they think you are
doing them ill?"

"Yes," answered North Wind, "it is just like that. But I will not tell
you that name--not just now. Only will you always remember, if you
should hear it, not to be the least afraid of it--or of me? Will you
promise, Diamond?"

"Yes, North Wind, I promise," said Diamond. "I will never be afraid of
you."

"Do you remember having to go through me to get into the country at my
back?" asked North Wind, "after the long, long, long ride in the ship
and the journey on the iceberg?"

"Yes, yes, I do! How tired you were, North Wind, when we got at last on
to the iceberg and South Wind began to blow! And how thin and weak you
grew in the beautiful blue cave in the side of the ice. Afterward when I
landed and found you in the cleft in the ice ridge, sitting on your own
door-step, how cold you were, North Wind! And so white, all but your
lovely eyes! When I went up close to you, my own heart grew like a lump
of ice. And when I tried to clasp you, the white grew so thick all about
me, and then I forgot for a while."

"You were very near then, Diamond, to knowing what my other name is. But
did I hurt you at all, dear boy? Would you be afraid of me if you had to
go through me again?"

"No. Why should I? It was delicious to forget like that! It was like
going into the softest and sweetest sleep! I should be glad enough to do
it again, if it was only to get another peep at the country at your
back."

"But you did not then see the real country at the back of the north
wind, Diamond," said North Wind.

"Didn't I, North Wind? Oh, I'm so sorry! I thought I