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MacDonald, George

"At The Back Of The North Wind"

I was going to clean the windows. It takes
a good many, you know. Really, what they do say of their
superiors down there!' 'It's only because they don't know
better,' I ventured to say. 'Of course, of course,' said the
little man. 'Nobody ever does know better. Well, I forgive them,
and that sets it all right, I hope.' 'It's very good of you,' I
said. 'No!' said he, 'it's not in the least good of me. I
couldn't be comfortable otherwise.' After this he said nothing
for a while, and I laid myself on the floor of his garret, and
stared up and around at the great blue beautifulness. I had
forgotten him almost, when at last he said: 'Ain't you done
yet?' 'Done what?' I asked. 'Done saying your prayers,' says he.
'I wasn't saying my prayers,' I answered. 'Oh, yes, you were,'
said he, 'though you didn't know it! And now I must show you
something else.'
"He took my hand and led me down the stair again, and
through a narrow passage, and through another, and another, and
another. I don't know how there could be room for so many
passages in such a little house. The heart of it must be
ever so much farther from the sides than they are from each
other. How could it have an inside that was so independent of
its outside? There's the point.


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