saw one of the biggest stars over his head give a kind of twinkle
and jump, as if it went out and came in again. He threw himself
on his back, and fixed his eyes upon it. Nor had he gazed long
before it went out, leaving something like a scar in the blue.
But as he went on gazing he saw a face where the star had been--
a merry face, with bright eyes. The eyes appeared not only to
see Diamond, but to know that Diamond had caught sight of them,
for the face withdrew the same moment. Again came the voice,
calling "Diamond, Diamond;" and in jumped the star to its place.

Diamond called as loud as he could, right up into the sky:

"Here's Diamond, down below you. What do you want him to do?"

The next instant many of the stars round about that one went out,
and many voices shouted from the sky,--

"Come up; come up. We're so jolly! Diamond! Diamond!"

This was followed by a peal of the merriest, kindliest laughter,
and all the stars jumped into their places again.

"How am I to come up?" shouted Diamond.

"Go round the rose-bush. It's got its foot in it," said the first voice.

Diamond got up at once, and walked to the other side of the rose-bush.

There he found what seemed the very opposite of what he wanted--
a stair down into the earth. It was of turf and moss. It did not seem