oublesome.

But she dropped a little towards the roofs of the houses, and Diamond
could see down into the streets. There were very few people about,
though. The lamps flickered and flared again, but nobody seemed to want
them.

Suddenly Diamond espied a little girl coming along a street. She was
dreadfully blown by the wind, and a broom she was trailing behind her
was very troublesome. It seemed as if the wind had a spite at her--it
kept worrying her like a wild beast, and tearing at her rags. She was so
lonely there!

"Oh! please, North Wind," he cried, "won't you help that little girl?"

"No, Diamond; I mustn't leave my work."

"But why shouldn't you be kind to her?"

"I am kind to her. I am sweeping the wicked smells away."

"But you're kinder to me, dear North Wind. Why shouldn't you be as kind
to her as you are to me?"

"There are reasons, Diamond. Everybody can't be done to all the same.
Everybody is not ready for the same thing."

"But I don't see why I should be kinder used than she."

"Do you think nothing's to be done but what you can see, Diamond, you
silly! It's all right. Of course you can help her if you like. You've
got nothing particular to do at this moment; I have."

"Oh! do let me help her, then. But you won't be able to wait, perhaps?"

"No, I can't wait; you must do it yourself. And, mind, the wind will get
a hold of you, too."

"Don't you want me to help her, North Wind?"

"Not without having some idea what will happen. If you break down and
cry, that won't be much of a help to her, and it will make a goose of
little Diamond."

"I want to go," said Diamond. "Only there's just one thing--how am I to
get home?"

"If you're anxious about that, perhaps you had better go with me. I am
bound to take you home again, if you do."

"There!" cried Diamond, who was still looking after the little girl.
"I'm sure the wind will blow her over, and perhaps kill her. Do let me
go."

They had been sweeping more slowly along the line of the street. There
was a lull in the roaring.

"Well, though I cannot promise to take you home," said North Wind, as
she sank nearer and nearer to the tops of the houses, "I can promise
you it will be all right in the end. You will get home somehow. Have you
made up your mind what to do?"

"Yes; to help the little girl," said Diamond firmly.

The same moment North Wind dropt into the street and stood, only a tall
lady, but with her hair flying up over the hou