Neither was there a wooden wall at the back of his bed with a hole in it for North Wind to come in a

Neither was there a wooden wall at the back of his bed with a hole in it for North Wind to come in at when she liked. Indeed, there was such a high wall that North Wind seldom got into the place. And the wall at the head of Diamond’s new bed only divided it from the room where a cabman lived who drank too much beer and came home to quarrel with and abuse his wife. It was dreadful for Diamond to hear the scolding and the crying. But he was determined it should not make him miserable for he had been at the back of the north wind.
Chapter 6 Diamond Learns To Drive a Horse
The wind blew loudly all night long, the first night Diamond slept in his new home, but he did not hear it. My own belief is that when Diamond slept too soundly to remember anything about it in the morning, he had been all night at the back of the north wind. Sometimes something did seem to remain in his mind like the low far-off murmur of the river singing its song. He sometimes tried to hold on to the words it sung. But ever as he came awaker — as he would say — one line faded away and then another. At last there was nothing left but the sense that everything went right there and could — and must — be made to go right here.
That was how he awoke that first morning and he jumped up at once saying, “I’ve been ill a long time and given a great deal of trouble. Now let’s see how I can help my mother.”
When he went into her room, he found her lighting the fire and his father just getting up. So he took up the baby who was awake too and cared for him till his mother had the breakfast ready. She was looking gloomy and his father too was silent. Diamond felt that in a few minutes, he would be just as miserable. But he tried with all his might to be jolly with the baby and presently his mother just had to smile.
“Why, Diamond, child!” she said at last. “You are as good to your mother as if you were a girl — nursing the baby and toasting the bread, and sweeping up the hearth. I declare a body would think you had been among the fairies.”
“I’ve been at the back of the north wind,” said Diamond to himself happily.
And now his father was more cheerful too. “Won’t you come out and see the cab, Diamond?” he asked.
“Yes, father, in just a minute after I put the baby down.”
So his father went on ahead. When Diamond got out into the yard, the horse was between the shafts. Diamond went around to look at him. The sight of him made him feel very queer. He could not make it out. What horse was it that looked so familiar? When he came around in front and the old horse put out his long neck and began rubbing against him, Diamond saw it could be no other than old Diamond and he just put his arms around his neck and cried.
“Isn’t it jolly, father!” he said. “Was there ever anybody so lucky as we! Dear old Diamond!” He hugged the horse again and kissed both his big, hairy cheeks. He could only manage one at a time, however — the other cheek was so far off on the other side of old Diamond’s big head. And now his father took up the reins to drive off.
“Oh, father, do let me drive a bit!” cried Diamond jumping up on the box beside him. His father put the reins into his hands and began to show him how to drive. He let Diamond drive quite a little way and then the boy jumped down and ran gaily back to his mother.