heidi-第27部分

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　it's　all　in　the　letter〃　and　Heidi　jumped　down　and　fetched　the　roll　and　the　letter　and　handed　them　both　to　her　grandfather。

〃That　belongs　to　you；〃　said　the　latter；　laying　the　roll　down　on　the　bench　beside　him。　Then　he　opened　the　letter；　read　it　through　and　without　a　word　put　it　in　his　pocket。

〃Do　you　think　you　can　still　drink　milk　with　me；　Heidi？〃　he　asked；　taking　the　child　by　the　hand　to　go　into　the　hut。　〃But　bring　your　money　with　you；　you　can　buy　a　bed　and　bedclothes　and　dresses　for　a　couple　of　years　with　it。〃

〃I　am　sure　I　do　not　want　it；〃　replied　Heidi。　〃I　have　got　a　bed　already；　and　Clara　has　put　such　a　lot　of　clothes　in　my　box　that　I　shall　never　want　any　more。〃

〃Take　it　and　put　it　in　the　cupboard；　you　will　want　it　some　day　I　have　no　doubt。〃

Heidi　obeyed　and　skipped　happily　after　her　grandfather　into　the　house；　she　ran　into　all　the　corners；　delighted　to　see　everything　again；　and　then　went　up　the　ladderbut　there　she　came　to　a　pause　and　called　down　in　a　tone　of　surprise　and　distress；　〃Oh；　grandfather；　my　bed's　gone。〃

〃We　can　soon　make　it　up　again；〃　he　answered　her　from　below。　〃I　did　not　know　that　you　were　coming　back；　come　along　now　and　have　your　milk。〃

Heidi　came　down；　sat　herself　on　her　high　stool　in　the　old　place；　and　then　taking　up　her　bowl　drank　her　milk　eagerly；　as　if　she　had　never　come　across　anything　so　delicious；　and　as　she　put　down　her　bowl；　she　exclaimed；　〃Our　milk　tastes　nicer　than　anything　else　in　the　world；　grandfather。〃

A　shrill　whistle　was　heard　outside。　Heidi　darted　out　like　a　flash　of　lightning。　There　were　the　goats　leaping　and　springing　among　the　rocks；　with　Peter　in　their　midst。　When　he　caught　sight　of　Heidi　he　stood　still　with　astonishment　and　gazed　speechlessly　at　her。　Heidi　called　out；　〃Good…evening；　Peter；〃　and　then　ran　in　among　the　goats。　〃Little　Swan！　Little　Bear！　do　you　know　me　again？〃　And　the　animals　evidently　recognized　her　voice　at　once；　for　they　began　rubbing　their　heads　against　her　and　bleating　loudly　as　if　for　joy；　and　as　she　called　the　other　goats　by　name　one　after　the　other；　they　all　came　scampering　towards　her　helter…skelter　and　crowding　round　her。　The　impatient　Greenfinch　sprang　into　the　air　and　over　two　of　her　companions　in　order　to　get　nearer；　and　even　the　shy　little　Snowflake　butted　the　Great　Turk　out　of　her　way　in　quite　a　determined　manner；　which　left　him　standing　taken　aback　by　her　boldness；　and　lifting　his　beard　in　the　air　as　much　as　to　say；　You　see　who　I　am。

Heidi　was　out　of　her　mind　with　delight　at　being　among　all　her　old　friends　again；　she　flung　her　arms　round　the　pretty　little　Snowflake；　stroked　the　obstreperous　Greenfinch；　while　she　herself　was　thrust　at　from　all　sides　by　the　affectionate　and　confiding　goats；　and　so　at　last　she　got　near　to　where　Peter　was　still　standing；　not　having　yet　got　over　his　surprise。

〃Come　down；　Peter；〃　cried　Heidi；　〃and　say　good…evening　to　me。〃

〃So　you　are　back　again？〃　he　found　words　to　say　at　last；　and　now　ran　down　and　took　Heidi's　hand　which　she　was　holding　out　in　greeting；　and　immediately　put　the　same　question　to　her　which　he　had　been　in　the　habit　of　doing　in　the　old　days　when　they　returned　home　in　the　evening；　〃Will　you　come　out　with　me　again　to…morrow？〃

〃Not　to…morrow；　but　the　day　after　perhaps；　for　to…morrow　I　must　go　down　to　grandmother。〃

〃I　am　glad　you　are　back；〃　said　Peter；　while　his　whole　face　beamed　with　pleasure；　and　then　he　prepared　to　go　on　with　his　goats；　but　he　never　had　had　so　much　trouble　with　them　before；　for　when　at　last；　by　coaxing　and　threats；　he　had　got　them　all　together；　and　Heidi　had　gone　off　with　an　arm　over　either　head　of　her　grandfather's　two；　the　whole　flock　suddenly　turned　and　ran　after　her。　Heidi　had　to　go　inside　the　stall　with　her　two　and　shut　the　door；　or　Peter　would　never　have　got　home　that　night。　When　Heidi　went　indoors　after　this　she　found　her　bed　already　made　up　for　her；　the　hay　had　been　piled　high　for　it　and　smelt　deliciously；　for　it　had　only　just　been　got　in；　and　the　grandfather　had　carefully　spread　and　tucked　in　the　clean　sheets。　It　was　with　a　happy　heart　that　Heidi　lay　down　in　it　that　night；　and　her　sleep　was　sounder　than　it　had　been　for　a　whole　year　past。　The　grandfather　got　up　at　least　ten　times　during　the　night　and　mounted　the　ladder　to　see　if　Heidi　was　all　right　and　showing　no　signs　of　restlessness；　and　to　feel　that　the　hay　he　had　stuffed　into　the　round　window　was　keeping　the　moon　from　shining　too　brightly　upon　her。　But　Heidi　did　not　stir；　she　had　no　need　now　to　wander　about；　for　the　great　burning　longing　of　her　heart　was　satisfied；　she　had　seen　the　high　mountains　and　rocks　alight　in　the　evening　glow；　she　had　heard　the　wind　in　the　fir　trees；　she　was　at　home　again　on　the　mountain。



CHAPTER　XIV。　SUNDAY　BELLS

Heidi　was　standing　under　the　waving　fir　trees　waiting　for　her　grandfather；　who　was　going　down　with　her　to　grandmother's；　and　then　on　to　Dorfli　to　fetch　her　box。　She　was　longing　to　know　how　grandmother　had　enjoyed　her　white　bread　and　impatient　to　see　and　hear　her　again；　but　no　time　seemed　weary　to　her　now；　for　she　could　not　listen　long　enough　to　the　familiar　voice　of　the　trees；　or　drink　in　too　much　of　the　fragrance　wafted　to　her　from　the　green　pastures　where　the　golden…headed　flowers　were　glowing　in　the　sun；　a　very　feast　to　her　eyes。　The　grandfather　came　out；　gave　a　look　round；　and　then　called　to　her　in　a　cheerful　voice；　〃Well；　now　we　can　be　off。〃

It　was　Saturday；　a　day　when　Alm…Uncle　made　everything　clean　and　tidy　inside　and　outside　the　house；　he　had　devoted　his　morning　to　this　work　so　as　to　be　able　to　accompany　Heidi　in　the　afternoon；　and　the　whole　place　was　now　as　spick　and　span　as　he　liked　to　see　it。　They　parted　at　the　grandmother's　cottage　and　Heidi　ran　in。　The　grandmother　had　heard　her　steps　approaching　and　greeted　her　as　she　crossed　the　threshold；　〃Is　it　you；　child？　Have　you　come　again？〃

Then　she　took　hold　of　Heidi's　hand　and　held　it　fast　in　her　own；　for　she　still　seemed　to　fear　that　the　child　might　be　torn　from　her　again。　And　now　she　had　to　tell　Heidi　how　much　she　had　enjoyed　the　white　bread；　and　how　much　stronger　she　felt　already　for　having　been　able　to　eat　it；　and　then　Peter's　mother　went　on　and　said　she　was　sure　that　if　her　mother　could　eat　like　that　for　a　week　she　would　get　back　some　of　her　strength；　but　she　was　so　afraid　of　coming　to　the　end　of　the　rolls；　that　she　had　only　eaten　one　as　yet。　Heidi　listened　to　all　Brigitta　said；　and　sat　thinking　for　a　while。　Then　she　suddenly　thought　of　a　way。

〃I　know；　grandmother；　what　I　will　do；〃　she　said　eagerly；　〃I　will　write　to　Clara；　and　she　will　send　me　as　many　rolls　again；　if　not　twice　as　many　as　you　have　already；　for　I　had　ever　such　a　large　heap　in　the　wardrobe；　and　when　they　were　all　taken　away　she　promised　to　give　me　as　many　back；　and　she　would　do　so　I　am　sure。〃

〃That　is　a　good　idea；〃　said　Brigitta；　〃but　then；　they　would　get　hard　and　stale。　The　baker　in　Dorfli　makes　the　white　rolls；　and　if　we　could　get　some　of　those　he　has　over　now　and　thenbut　I　can　only　just　manage　to　pay　for　the　black　bread。〃

A　further　bright　thought　came　to　Heidi；　and　with　a　look　of　joy；　〃Oh；　I　have　lots　of　money；　grandmother；〃　she　cried　gleefully；　skipping　about　the　room　in　her　delight；　〃and　I　know　now　what　I　will　do　with　it。　You　must　have　a　fresh　white　roll　every　day；　and　two　on　Sunday；　and　Peter　can　bring　them　up　from　Dorfli。〃

〃No；　no；　child！〃　answered　the　grandmother；　〃I　cannot　let　you　do　that；　the　money　was　not　given　to　you　for　that　purpose；　you　must　give　it　to　your　grandfather；　and　he　will　tell　you　how　you　are　to　spend　it。〃

But　Heidi　was　not　to　be　hindered　in　her　kind　intentions；　and　she　continued　to　jump　about；　saying　over　and　over　again　in　a　tone　of　exultation；　〃Now；　grandmother　can　have　a　roll　every　day　and　will　grow　quite　strong　againand；　Oh；　grandmother；〃　she　suddenly　exclaimed　with　an　increase　of　jubilation　in　her　voice；　〃if　you　get　strong　everything　will　grow　light　again　for　you；　perhaps　it's　only　because　you　are　weak　that　it　is　dark。〃　The　grandmother　said　nothing；　she　did　not　wish　to　spoil　the　child's　pleasure。　As　she　went　jumping　about　Heidi　suddenly　caught　sight　of　the　grandmother's　song　book；　and　another　happy　idea　struck　her；　〃Grandmother；　I　can　also　read　now；　would　you　like　me　to　read　you　one　of　your　hymns　from　your　old　book？〃

〃Oh；　yes；〃　said　the　grandmother；　surprised　and　delighted；　〃but　can　you　really　read；　child；　really？〃

Heidi　had　climbed　on　to　a　chair　and　had　already　lifted　down　the　book；　bringing　a　cloud　of　dust　with　it；　for　it　had　lain　untouched　on　the　shelf　for　a　long　time。　Heidi　wiped　it；　sat　herself　down　on　a　stool　beside　the　old　woman；　and　asked　her　which　hymn　she　should　read。

〃What　you　like；　child；　what　you　like；〃　and　the　grandmother　pushed　her　spinning…wheel　aside　and　sat　in　eager　expectation　waiting　for　Heidi　to　begin。　Heidi　turned　over　the　leaves　and　read　a　line　out　softly　to　herself　here　and　there。　At　last　she　said；

〃Here　is　one　about　the　sun；　grandmother；　I　will　read　you　that。〃　And　Heidi　began；　reading　with　more　and　more　warmth　of　expression　as　she　went　on；

　　　　　The　morning　breaks；　　　　　　　And　warm　and　bright　　　　　　　The　earth　lies　still　　　　　　　In　the　golden　light　　　For　Dawn　has　scattered　the　clouds　of　night。

　　　　　God's　handiwork　　　　　　　Is　seen　around；　　　　　　　Things　great　and　small　　　　　　　To　His　praise　abound　　　Where　are　the　signs　of　His　love　not　found？

　　　　　All　things　must　pass；　　　　　　　But　God　shall　still　　　　　　　With　steadfast　power　　　　　　　His　will　fulfil　　　Sure　and　unshaken　is　His　will。

　　　　　His　saving　grace　　　　　　　Will　never　fail；　　　　　　　Though　grief　and　fear　　　　　　　The　heart　assail　　　O'er　life's　wild　seas　He　will　prevail。

　　　　　Joy　shall　be　ours　　　　　　　In　that　garden　blest；　　　　　　　Where　after　storm　　　　　　　We　find　our　rest　　　I　wait　in　peaceGod's　time　is　best。


The　grandmother　sat　with　folded　hands　and　a　look　of　indescribable　joy　on　her　face；　such　as　Heidi　had　never　seen　there　before；　although　at　the　same　time　the　tears　were　running　down　her　cheeks。　As　Heidi　finished；　she　implored　her；　saying；　〃Read　it　once　again；　child；　just　once　again。〃

And　the　child　began　again；　with　as　much　pleasure　in　the　verses　as　the　grandmother；

　　　　　Joy　shall　be　ours　　　　　　　In　that　garden　blest；　　　　　　　Where　after　storm　　　　　　　We　find　our　rest　　　I　wait　in　peaceGod's　time　is　best。


〃Ah；　Heidi；　that