"Please, would you mind going a little slower, for I want to see
the streets?"

"You won't see much now."

"Why?"

"Because I have nearly swept all the people home."

"Oh! I forgot," said Diamond, and was quiet after that, for he
did not want to be troublesome.

But she dropped a little towards the roofs of the houses,
and Diamond could see down into the streets. There were very few
people about, though. The lamps flickered and flared again,
but nobody seemed to want them.

Suddenly Diamond espied a little girl coming along a street. She was
dreadfully blown by the wind, and a broom she was trailing behind her
was very troublesome. It seemed as if the wind had a spite at her--
it kept worrying her like a wild beast, and tearing at her rags.
She was so lonely there!

"Oh! please, North Wind," he cried, "won't you help that little girl?"

"No, Diamond; I mustn't leave my work."

"But why shouldn't you be kind to her?"

"I am kind to her. I am sweeping the wicked smells away."