He had a penny in his pocket, a gift of the same lady the day before, and he tumbled off his horse to give it to the girl.

He tumbled off, I say, for he did tumble when he reached the ground.

But he got up in an instant, and ran, searching his pocket as he ran.

She made him a pretty courtesy when he offered his treasure, but with a bewildered stare.

She thought first: "Then he was on the back of the North Wind after all!" but, looking up at the sound of the horse's feet on the paved crossing, she changed her idea, saying to herself, "North Wind is his father's horse! That's the secret of it! Why couldn't he say so ?" And she had a mind to refuse the penny.