under the bed-clothes, and never look up to see what kind of person you
are talking to.--I want you to come out with me."

"I want to go to sleep," said Diamond, very nearly crying, for he did
not like to be scolded, even when he deserved it.

"You shall sleep all the better to-morrow night."

"Besides," said Diamond, "you are out in Mr. Dyves's garden, and I can't
get there. I can only get into our own yard."

"Will you take your head out of the bed-clothes?" said the voice, just a
little angrily.

"No!" answered Diamond, half peevish, half frightened.

The instant he said the word, a tremendous blast of wind crashed in a
board of the wall, and swept the clothes off Diamond. He started up in
terror. Leaning over him was the large, beautiful, pale face of a woman.
Her dark eyes looked a little angry, for they had just begun to flash;
but a quivering in her sweet upper lip made her look as if she were
going to cry. What was the most strange was that away from her head
streamed out her black hair in every direction, so that the darkness in
the hay-loft looked as if it were made of her, hair but as Diamond gazed
at her in speechless amazement, mingled with confidence--for the boy was
entranced with her mighty beauty--her hair began to gather itself out
of the darkness, and fell down all about her again, till her face looked
out of the midst of it like a moon out of a cloud. From her eyes came
all the light by which Diamond saw her face and her, hair; and that was
all he did see of her yet. The wind was over and gone.

"Will you go with me now, you little Diamond? I am sorry I was forced to
be so rough with you," said the lady.

"I will; yes, I will," answered Diamond, holding out both his arms.
"But," he added, dropping them, "how shall I get my clothes? They are in
mother's room, and the door is locked."

"Oh, never mind your clothes. You will not be cold. I shall take care of
that. Nobody is cold with the north wind."

"I thought everybody was," said Diamond.

"That is a great mistake. Most people make it, however. They are cold
because they are not with the north wind, but without it."

If Diamond had been a little older, and had supposed himself a good deal
wiser, he would have thought the lady was joking. But he was not older,
and did not fancy himself wiser, and therefore understood her well
enough. Again he stretched out his arms. The lady's face drew back a
little.

"Follow me, Diamond," she said.