The disagreeable work must be looked after first."

So saying, she laid hold of Diamond and began to run, gliding along
faster and faster. Diamond kept up with her as well as he could.
She made many turnings and windings, apparently because it was not
quite easy to get him over walls and houses. Once they ran through
a hall where they found back and front doors open. At the foot of
the stair North Wind stood still, and Diamond, hearing a great growl,
started in terror, and there, instead of North Wind, was a huge wolf
by his side. He let go his hold in dismay, and the wolf bounded
up the stair. The windows of the house rattled and shook as if
guns were firing, and the sound of a great fall came from above.
Diamond stood with white face staring up at the landing.

"Surely," he thought, "North Wind can't be eating one of the children!"
Coming to himself all at once, he rushed after her with his little
fist clenched. There were ladies in long trains going up and down
the stairs, and gentlemen in white neckties attending on them,
who stared at him, but none of them were of the people of the house,
and they said nothing. Before he reached the head of the stair,
however, North Wind met him, took him by the hand, and hurried
down and out of the house.

"I hope you haven't eaten a baby, North Wind!" said Diamond,
very solemnly.

North Wind laughed merrily, and went tripping on faster. Her grassy
robe swept and swirled about her steps, and wherever it passed
over withered leaves, they went fleeing and whirling in spirals,
and running on their edges like wheels, all about her feet.