# Nanny — At the Back of the North Wind character guide > Nanny in At the Back of the North Wind by George MacDonald. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Queen Anne **First appearance:** 0021-xxi-sal-s-nanny ## Snapshot A ragged, sharp-tongued girl from the wretched streets who dreams her way into a moonlit garden and trades stories with Diamond about what dreams are worth. ## Who they are Nanny is poor, unsentimental, and quick to call Diamond's head cracked, yet she tells him her dream of escaping the mud for a moonlit lawn with a frankness that matches his own. She insists her dreams are only dreams, while Diamond insists they are something more, and the argument between them is never quite settled. Her friendship gives Diamond a companion who sees the same world he does but refuses to believe in it, which sharpens the questions the story keeps asking about what is real. ## Relationships ### [Diamond](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_back_of_the_north_wind_se/characters/diamond) _family_ Nanny is Diamond's devoted nursemaid and later a beloved family member, caring for him with gentle affection. ### [Mr. Raymond](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_back_of_the_north_wind_se/characters/mr_raymond) _professional_ Mr. Raymond employs Nanny as a servant in his household, treating her with respect. ### [Diamond](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_back_of_the_north_wind_se/characters/diamond) _family_ Nanny is Diamond's devoted nursemaid and later a beloved family member, caring for him with gentle affection. ### [Diamond](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_back_of_the_north_wind_se/characters/diamond) _family_ Nanny is Diamond's devoted nursemaid and later a beloved family member, caring for him with gentle affection. ### [Mr. Raymond](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_back_of_the_north_wind_se/characters/mr_raymond) _professional_ Mr. Raymond employs Nanny as a servant in his household, treating her with respect. ### [Mr. Raymond](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_back_of_the_north_wind_se/characters/mr_raymond) _professional_ Mr. Raymond employs Nanny as a servant in his household, treating her with respect. ## In the story ### [IV: North Wind](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_back_of_the_north_wind_se/chapters/iv-north-wind) The little girl Diamond helps; she is a street sweeper who is skeptical of Diamond's story about North Wind. ### [V: The Summerhouse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_back_of_the_north_wind_se/chapters/v-the-summerhouse) The crossing-sweeper girl who receives a penny from Diamond and suspects North Wind is his father's horse. ### [XIX: Diamond’s Friends](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_back_of_the_north_wind_se/chapters/xix-diamond-s-friends) The crossing-sweeper girl who talks with Diamond and the gentleman, reveals her difficult home life with her grandmother and her care for cripple Jim. ### [Sal’s Nanny](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_back_of_the_north_wind_se/chapters/xxi-sal-s-nanny) Found ill and unconscious in Sal's cellar; later taken to the hospital. ### [Mr. Raymond’s Riddle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_back_of_the_north_wind_se/chapters/xxii-mr-raymond-s-riddle) Mentioned in connection with the hospital where Mr. Raymond hopes she will go. ### [XXV: Diamond's Dream](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_back_of_the_north_wind_se/chapters/xxv-diamond-s-dream) Diamond wonders about Nanny's crossing and whether she will fight for it when she recovers. ### [Diamond Takes a Fare the Wrong Way Right](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_back_of_the_north_wind_se/chapters/xxvi-diamond-takes-a-fare-the-wrong-way-right) Mentioned at the end as the person Diamond goes to inquire about after his fortnight of cabbing. ### [XXVII: The Children’s Hospital](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_back_of_the_north_wind_se/chapters/xxvii-the-children-s-hospital) Now a patient in the hospital, transformed by illness and care into a gentle, refined girl. ### [XXIX: Ruby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_back_of_the_north_wind_se/chapters/xxix-ruby) Nanny is recovering at the hospital and is the subject of the plan to provide her a home and training. ### [XXX: Nanny's Dream](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_back_of_the_north_wind_se/chapters/xxx-nanny-s-dream) Recuperating in the hospital, she tells Diamond about her beautiful dream involving a ruby ring and a moonlit garden. ### [The North Wind Doth Blow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_back_of_the_north_wind_se/chapters/xxxi-the-north-wind-doth-blow) Recovers from illness, moves in with Diamond's family, learns household tasks and reading, helps with the new baby. ### [In the Country](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_back_of_the_north_wind_se/chapters/xxxiv-in-the-country) Now healthy and managing the baby; skeptical about the country; attached to Jim; recognizes Mr. Raymond's wife as the lady who lent her the ruby ring. ### [XXXV: I Make Diamond’s Acquaintance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_back_of_the_north_wind_se/chapters/xxxv-i-make-diamond-s-acquaintance) Approaches with Jim during the thunderstorm, calls Diamond a 'little silly,' and hugs him pityingly. ### [Diamond Questions North Wind](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_back_of_the_north_wind_se/chapters/xxxvi-diamond-questions-north-wind) Teases Diamond about climbing the tree and about his belief in dreams, insisting that dreams aren't true. ### [At the Back of the North Wind](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_back_of_the_north_wind_se/chapters/xxxviii-at-the-back-of-the-north-wind) Mentioned as having called Diamond a silly along with Jim. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_back_of_the_north_wind_se/characters/nanny - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_back_of_the_north_wind_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_back_of_the_north_wind_se/characters