"Come nearer to me." By the help of the stones all around he clambered up beside her, and laid himself against her bosom.

She gave a great sigh, slowly lifted her arms, and slowly folded them about him, until she clasped him close.

Yet a moment, and she roused herself, and came quite awake; and the cold of her bosom, which had pierced Diamond's bones, vanished.
"Have you been sitting here ever since I went through you, dear North Wind ?" asked Diamond, stroking her hand.
"Yes," she answered, looking at him with her old kindness.
"Ain't you very tired ?" "No; I've often had to sit longer.

Do you know how long you have been ?" "Oh! years and years," answered Diamond.
"You have just been seven days," returned North Wind.
"I thought I had been a hundred years!" exclaimed Diamond.
"Yes, I daresay," replied North Wind.

"You've been away from here seven days; but how long you may have been in there is quite another thing.
Behind my back and before my face things are so different! They don't go at all by the same rule." "I'm very glad," said Diamond, after thinking a while.
"Why ?" asked North Wind.
"Because I've been such a long time there, and such a little while away from mother.