And he was
so angry at their daring to abuse North Wind, that he jumped up,
crying --
"North Wind knows best what she is about. She has a good
right to blow the cobwebs from your windows, for she was sent to
do it. She sweeps them away from grander places, I can tell you,
for I've been with her at it."
This was what he began to say, but as he spoke his eyes
came wide open, and behold, there were neither Apostles nor
vergers there -- not even a window with the effigies of holy men
in it, but a dark heap of hay all about him, and the little
panes in the roof of his loft glimmering blue in the light of
the morning. Old Diamond was coming awake down below in the
stable. In a moment more he was on his feet, and shaking himself
so that young Diamond's bed trembled under him.
"He's grand at shaking himself," said Diamond. "I wish I
could shake myself like that. But then I can wash myself, and he
can't. What fun it would be to see Old Diamond washing his face
with his hoofs and iron shoes! Wouldn't it be a picture?"
So saying, he got up and dressed himself. Then he went out
into the garden. There must have been a tremendous wind in the
night, for although all was quiet now, there lay the little
summer-house crushed to the ground, and over it the great
elm-tree, which the wind had broken across, being much decayed
in the middle.
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