heidi-第23部分
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t it would not venture again to haunt his house。 Fraulein Rottenmeier was not pleased with the tone of this letter； she did not think the matter was treated seriously enough。 She wrote off without delay to Frau Sesemann； but got no more satisfactory reply from that quarter； and some remarks in the letter she considered were quite offensive。 Frau Sesemann wrote that she did not feel inclined to take the journey again from Holstein to Frankfurt because Rottenmeier fancied she saw ghosts。 There had never been a ghost in the house since she bad known it； and if there was one now it must be a live one； with which Rottenmeier ought to be able to deal； if not she had better send for the watchman to help her。
Fraulein Rottenmeier； however； was determined not to pass any more days in a state of fear； and she knew the right course to pursue。 She had as yet said nothing to the children of the ghostly apparitions； for she knew if she did that the children would not remain alone for a single moment； and that might entail discomfort for herself。 But now she walked straight off into the study； and there in a low mysterious voice told the two children everything that had taken place。 Clara immediately screamed out that she could not remain another minute alone； her father must come home； and Fraulein Rottenmeier must sleep in her room at night； and Heidi too must not be left by herself； for the ghost might do something to her。 She insisted that they should all sleep together in one room and keep a light burning all night； and Tinette had better be in the next room； and Sebastian and John come upstairs and spend the night in the hall； so that they might call out and frighten the ghost the instant they saw it appear on the steps。 Clara； in short； grew very excited； and Fraulein Rottenmeier had great difficulty in quieting her。 She promised to write at once to her father； and to have her bed put in her room and not to be left alone for a moment。 They could not all sleep in the same room； but if Heidi was frightened； why Tinette must go into her room。 But Heidi was far more frightened of Tinette than of ghosts； of which the child had never before heard； so she assured the others she did not mind the ghost； and would rather be alone at night。
Fraulein Rottenmeier now sat down to write another letter to Herr Sesemann； stating that these unaccountable things that were going on in the house had so affected his daughter's delicate constitution that the worst consequences might be expected。 Epileptic fits and St。 Vitus's dance often came on suddenly in cases like this； and Clara was liable to be attacked by either if the cause of the general alarm was not removed。
The letter was successful； and two days later Herr Sesemann stood at his front door and rang the bell in such a manner that everybody came rushing from all parts of the house and stood looking affrighted at everybody else； convinced that the ghost was impudently beginning its evil tricks in daylight。 Sebastian peeped cautiously through a half…closed shutter； as he did so there came another violent ring at the bell； which it was impossible to mistake for anything but a very hard pull from a non…ghostly hand。 And Sebastian recognised whose hand it was； and rushing pell…mell out of the room； fell heels over head downstairs； but picked himself up at the bottom and flung open the street door。 Herr Sesemann greeted him abruptly and went up without a moment's delay into his daughter's room。 Clara greeted him with a cry of joy； and seeing her so lively and apparently as well as ever； his face cleared； and the frown of anxiety passed gradually away from it as he heard from his daughter's own lips that she had nothing the matter with her； and moreover was so delighted to see him that she was quite glad about the ghost； as it was the cause of bringing him home again。
〃And how is the ghost getting on？〃 he asked； turning to Fraulein Rottenmeier； with a twinkle of amusement in his eye。
〃It is no joke； I assure you；〃 replied that lady。 You will not laugh yourself to…morrow morning； Herr Sesemann； what is going on in the house points to some terrible thing that has taken place in the past and been concealed。〃
〃Well； I know nothing about that；〃 said the master of the house； 〃but I must beg you not to bring suspicion on my worthy ancestors。 And now will you kindly call Sebastian into the dining…room； as I wish to speak to him alone。〃
Herr Sesemann had been quite aware that Sebastian and Fraulein Rottenmeier were not on the best of terms； and he had his ideas about this scare。
〃Come here； lad；〃 he said as Sebastian appeared； 〃and tell me franklyhave you been playing at ghosts to amuse yourself at Fraulein Rottenmeier's expense？〃
〃No； on my honor； sir； pray； do not think it； I am very uncomfortable about the matter myself；〃 answered Sebastian with unmistakable truthfulness。
〃Well； if that is so； I will show you and John to…morrow morning how ghosts look in the daylight。 You ought to be ashamed of yourself； Sebastian； a great strong lad like you； to run away from a ghost！ But now go and take a message to my old friend the doctor； give him my kind regards； and ask him if he will come to me to…night at nine o'clock without fail； I have come by express from Paris to consult him。 I shall want him to spend the night here； so bad a case is it； so he will arrange accordingly。 You understand？〃
〃Yes； sir；〃 replied Sebastian； 〃I will see to the matter as you wish。〃 Then Herr Sesemann returned to Clara； and begged her to have no more fear； as he would soon find out all about the ghost and put an end to it。
Punctually at nine o'clock； after the children had gone to bed and Fraulein Rottenmeier had retired； the doctor arrived。 He was a grey…haired man with a fresh face； and two bright； kindly eyes。 He looked anxious as he walked in； but； on catching sight of his patient； burst out laughing and clapped him on the shoulder。 〃Well；〃 he said； 〃you look pretty bad for a person that I am to sit up with all night。〃
〃Patience； friend；〃 answered Herr Sesemann； 〃the one you have to sit up for will look a good deal worse when we have once caught him。〃
〃So there is a sick person in the house； and one that has first to be caught？〃
〃Much worse than that； doctor！ a ghost in the house！ My house is haunted！〃
The doctor laughed aloud。
〃That's a nice way of showing sympathy； doctor！〃 continued Herr； Sesemann。 〃It's a pity my friend Rottenmeier cannot hear you。 She is firmly convinced that some old member of the family is wandering about the house doing penance for some awful crime he committed。〃
〃How did she become acquainted with him？〃 asked the doctor； still very much amused。
So Herr Sesemann recounted to him how the front door was nightly opened by somebody； according to the testimony of the combined household； and he had therefore provided two loaded revolvers； so as to be prepared for anything that happened； for either the whole thing was a joke got up by some friend of the servants； just to alarm the household while he was awayand in that case a pistol fired into the air would procure him a wholesome frightor else it was a thief； who； by leading everybody at first to think there was a ghost； made it safe for himself when he came later to steal； as no one would venture to run out if they heard him； and in that case too a good weapon would not be amiss。
The two took up their quarters for the night in the same room in which Sebastian and John had kept watch。 A bottle of wine was placed on the table； for a little refreshment would be welcome from time to time if the night was to be passed sitting up。 Beside it lay the two revolvers； and two good…sized candles had also been lighted； for Herr Sesemann was determined not to wait for ghosts in any half light。
The door was shut close to prevent the light being seen in the hall outside； which might frighten away the ghost。 And now the two gentlemen sat comfortably back in the arm…chairs and began talking of all sorts of things； now and then pausing to take a good draught of wine； and so twelve o'clock struck before they were aware。
〃The ghost has got scent of us and is keeping away to…night；〃 said the doctor。
〃Wait a bit； it does not generally appear before one o'clock；〃 answered his friend。
They started talking again。 One o'clock struck。 There was not a sound about the house； nor in the street outside。 Suddenly the doctor lifted his finger。
〃Hush！ Sesemann； don't you hear something？〃
They both listened； and they distinctly heard the bar softly pushed aside and then the key turned in the lock and the door opened。 Herr Sesemann put out his hand for his revolver。
〃You are not afraid； are you？〃 said the doctor as he stood up。
〃It is better to take precautions；〃 whispered Herr Sesemann； and seizing one of the lights in his other hand； he followed the doctor； who； armed in like manner with a light and a revolver； went softly on in front。 They stepped into the hall。 The moonlight was shining in through the open door and fell on a white figure standing motionless in the doorway。
〃Who is there？〃 thundered the doctor in a voice that echoed through the hall； as the two men advanced with lights and weapons towards the figure。
It turned and gave a low cry。 There in her little white nightgown stood Heidi； with bare feet； staring with wild eyes at the lights and the revolvers； and trembling from head to foot like a leaf in the wind。 The two men looked as one another in surprise。
〃Why； I believe it is your little water…carrier； Sesemann；〃 said the doctor。
〃Child； what does this mean？〃 said Herr Sesemann。 〃What did you want？ why did you come down here？〃
White with terror； and hardly able to make her voice heard； Heidi answered； 〃I don't know。〃
But now the doctor stepped forward。 〃This is a matter for me to see to； Sesemann； go back to your chair。 I must take the child upstairs to her bed。〃
And with that he put down his revolver and gently taking the child by the hand led her upstairs。 〃Don't be frightened；〃 he said as they went up side by side； 〃it's nothing to be frightened about； it's all right； only just go quietly。〃
On reaching Heidi's room the doctor put the candle down on the table； and taking Heidi up in his arms lai
