"Good-night, Diamond," I said.

"Good-night, sir," answered Diamond.

As I walked away pondering, I saw the great black top of the beech
swaying about against the sky in an upper wind, and heard the murmur
as of many dim half-articulate voices filling the solitude around
Diamond's nest.



CHAPTER XXXVI

DIAMOND QUESTIONS NORTH WIND


MY READERS will not wonder that, after this, I did my very best
to gain the friendship of Diamond. Nor did I find this at
all difficult, the child was so ready to trust. Upon one subject
alone was he reticent--the story of his relations with North Wind.
I fancy he could not quite make up his mind what to think of them.
At all events it was some little time before he trusted me with this,
only then he told me everything. If I could not regard it
all in exactly the same light as he did, I was, while guiltless
of the least pretence, fully sympathetic, and he was satisfied
without demanding of me any theory of difficult points involved.
I let him see plainly enough, that whatever might be the explanation
of the marvellous experience, I would have given much for a similar
one myself.