heidi-第31部分

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　grandmother；　that　she　might　have　something　to　eat　with　her　coffee　besides　bread。　An　immense　sausage　was　the　next　article；　this　had　been　originally　intended　for　Peter；　who　never　had　anything　but　bread　and　cheese；　but　Clara　had　altered　her　mind；　fearing　that　in　his　delight　he　might　eat　it　all　up　at　once　and　make　himself　ill。　So　she　arranged　to　send　it　to　Brigitta；　who　could　take　some　for　herself　and　the　grandmother　and　give　Peter　his　portion　out　by　degrees。　A　packet　of　tobacco　was　a　present　for　grandfather；　who　was　fond　of　his　pipe　as　he　sat　resting　in　the　evening。　Finally　there　was　a　whole　lot　of　mysterious　little　bags；　and　parcels；　and　boxes；　which　Clara　had　had　especial　pleasure　in　collecting；　as　each　was　to　be　a　joyful　surprise　for　Heidi　as　she　opened　it。　The　work　came　to　an　end　at　last；　and　an　imposing…looking　package　lay　on　the　floor　ready　for　transport。　Fraulein　Rottenmeier　looked　at　it　with　satisfaction；　lost　in　the　consideration　of　the　art　of　packing。　Clara　eyed　it　too　with　pleasure；　picturing　Heidi's　exclamations　and　jumps　of　joy　and　surprise　when　the　huge　parcel　arrived　at　the　hut。

And　now　Sebastian　came　in；　and　lifting　the　package　on　to　his　shoulder；　carried　it　off　to　be　forwarded　at　once　to　the　doctor's　house。



CHAPTER　XVI。　A　VISITOR

The　early　light　of　morning　lay　rosy　red　upon　the　mountains；　and　a　fresh　breeze　rustled　through　the　fir　trees　and　set　their　ancient　branches　waving　to　and　fro。　The　sound　awoke　Heidi　and　she　opened　her　eyes。　The　roaring　in　the　trees　always　stirred　a　strong　emotion　within　her　and　seemed　to　drew　her　irresistibly　to　them。　So　she　jumped　out　of　bed　and　dressed　herself　as　quickly　as　she　could；　but　it　took　her　some　time　even　then；　for　she　was　careful　now　to　be　always　clean　and　tidy。

When　she　went　down　her　ladder　she　found　her　grandfather　had　already　left　the　hut。　He　was　standing　outside　looking　at　the　sky　and　examining　the　landscape　as　he　did　every　morning；　to　see　what　sort　of　weather　it　was　going　to　be。

Little　pink　clouds　were　floating　over　the　sky；　that　was　growing　brighter　and　bluer　with　every　minute；　while　the　heights　and　the　meadow　lands　were　turning　gold　under　the　rising　sun；　which　was　just　appearing　above　the　topmost　peaks。

〃O　how　beautiful！　how　beautiful！　Good…morning；　grandfather！〃　cried　Heidi；　running　out。

〃What；　you　are　awake　already；　are　you？〃　he　answered；　giving　her　a　morning　greeting。

Then　Heidi　ran　round　to　the　fir　trees　to　enjoy　the　sound　she　loved　so　well；　and　with　every　fresh　gust　of　wind　which　came　roaring　through　their　branches　she　gave　a　fresh　jump　and　cry　of　delight。

Meanwhile　the　grandfather　had　gone　to　milk　the　goats；　this　done　he　brushed　and　washed　them；　ready　for　their　mountain　excursion；　and　brought　them　out　of　their　shed。　As　soon　as　Heidi　caught　sight　of　her　two　friends　she　ran　and　embraced　them；　and　they　bleated　in　return；　while　they　vied　with　each　other　in　showing　their　affection　by　poking　their　heads　against　her　and　trying　which　could　get　nearest　her；　so　that　she　was　almost　crushed　between　them。　But　Heidi　was　not　afraid　of　them；　and　when　the　lively　Little　Bear　gave　rather　too　violent　a　thrust；　she　only　said；　〃No；　Little　Bear；　you　are　pushing　like　the　Great　Turk；〃　and　Little　Bear　immediately　drew　back　his　head　and　left　off　his　rough　attentions；　while　Little　Swan　lifted　her　head　and　put　on　an　expression　as　much　as　to　say；　〃No　one　shall　ever　accuse　me　of　behaving　like　the　Great　Turk。〃　For　White　Swan　was　a　rather　more　distinguished　person　than　Brown　Bear。

And　now　Peter's　whistle　was　heard　and　all　the　goats　came　along；　leaping　and　springing；　and　Heidi　soon　found　herself　surrounded　by　the　whole　flock；　pushed　this　way　and　that　by　their　obstreperous　greetings；　but　at　last　she　managed　to　get　through　them　to　where　Snowflake　was　standing；　for　the　young　goat　had　in　vain　striven　to　reach　her。

Peter　now　gave　a　last　tremendous　whistle；　in　order　to　startle　the　goats　and　drive　them　off；　for　he　wanted　to　get　near　himself　to　say　something　to　Heidi。　The　goats　sprang　aside　and　he　came　up　to　her。

〃Can　you　come　out　with　me　to…day？〃　he　asked；　evidently　unwilling　to　hear　her　refuse。

〃I　am　afraid　I　cannot；　Peter；〃　she　answered。　〃I　am　expecting　them　every　minute　from　Frankfurt；　and　I　must　be　at　home　when　they　come。〃

〃You　have　said　the　same　thing　for　days　now；〃　grumbled　Peter。

〃I　must　continue　to　say　it　till　they　come；〃　replied　Heidi。　〃How　can　you　think；　Peter；　that　I　would　be　away　when　they　came？　As　if　I　could　do　such　a　thing？〃

〃They　would　find　Uncle　at　home；〃　he　answered　with　a　snarling　voice。

But　at　this　moment　the　grandfather's　stentorian　voice　was　heard。　〃Why　is　the　army　not　marching　forward？　Is　it　the　field…marshal　who　is　missing　or　some　of　the　troops？〃

Whereupon　Peter　turned　and　went　off；　swinging　his　stick　round　so　that　it　whistled　through　the　air；　and　the　goats；　who　understood　the　signal；　started　at　full　trot　for　their　mountain　pasture；　Peter　following　in　their　wake。

Since　Heidi　had　been　back　with　her　grandfather　things　came　now　and　then　into　her　mind　of　which　she　had　never　thought　in　former　days。　So　now；　with　great　exertion；　she　put　her　bed　in　order　every　morning；　patting　and　stroking　it　till　she　had　got　it　perfectly　smooth　and　flat。　Then　she　went　about　the　room　downstairs；　put　each　chair　back　in　its　place；　and　if　she　found　anything　lying　about　she　put　it　in　the　cupboard。　After　that　she　fetched　a　duster；　climbed　on　a　chair；　and　rubbed　the　table　till　it　shone　again。　When　the　grandfather　came　in　later　he　would　look　round　well　pleased　and　say　to　himself；　〃We　look　like　Sunday　every　day　now；　Heidi　did　not　go　abroad　for　nothing。〃

After　Peter　had　departed　and　she　and　her　grandfather　had　breakfasted；　Heidi　began　her　daily　work　as　usual；　but　she　did　not　get　on　with　it　very　fast。　It　was　so　lovely　out　of　doors　to…day；　and　every　minute　something　happened　to　interrupt　her　in　her　work。　Now　it　was　a　bright　beam　of　sun　shining　cheerfully　through　the　open　window；　and　seeming　to　say；　〃Come　out；　Heidi；　come　out！〃　Heidi　felt　she　could　not　stay　indoors；　and　she　ran　out　in　answer　to　the　call。　The　sunlight　lay　sparkling　on　everything　around　the　hut　and　on　all　the　mountains　and　far　away　along　the　valley；　and　the　grass　slope　looked　so　golden　and　inviting　that　she　was　obliged　to　sit　down　for　a　few　minutes　and　look　about　her。　Then　she　suddenly　remembered　that　her　stool　was　left　standing　in　the　middle　of　the　floor　and　that　the　table　had　not　been　rubbed；　and　she　jumped　up　and　ran　inside　again。　But　it　was　not　long　before　the　fir　trees　began　their　old　song；　Heidi　felt　it　in　all　her　limbs；　and　again　the　desire　to　run　outside　was　irresistible；　and　she　was　off　to　play　and　leap　to　the　tune　of　the　waving　branches。　The　grandfather；　who　was　busy　in　his　work…shed；　stepped　out　from　time　to　time　smiling　to　watch　her　at　her　gambols。　He　had　just　gone　back　to　his　work　on　one　of　these　occasions　when　Heidi　called　out；　〃Grandfather！　grandfather！　Come；　come！〃

He　stepped　quickly　out；　almost　afraid　something　had　happened　to　the　child；　but　he　saw　her　running　towards　where　the　mountain　path　descended；　crying；　〃They　are　coming！　they　are　coming！　and　the　doctor　is　in　front　of　them！〃

Heidi　rushed　forward　to　welcome　her　old　friend；　who　held　out　his　hands　in　greeting　to　her。　When　she　came　up　to　him　she　clung　to　his　outstretched　arm；　and　exclaimed　in　the　joy　of　her　heart；　〃Good…morning；　doctor；　and　thank　you　ever　so　many　times。〃

〃God　bless　you；　child！　what　have　you　got　to　thank　me　for？〃　asked　the　doctor；　smiling。

〃For　being　at　home　again　with　grandfather；〃　the　child　explained。

The　doctor's　face　brightened　as　if　a　sudden　ray　of　sunshine　had　passed　across　it；　he　had　not　expected　such　a　reception　as　this。　Lost　in　the　sense　of　his　loneliness　he　had　climbed　the　mountain　without　heeding　how　beautiful　it　was　on　every　side；　and　how　more　and　more　beautiful　it　became　the　higher　he　got。　He　had　quite　thought　that　Heidi　would　have　forgotten　him；　she　had　seen　so　little　of　him；　and　he　had　felt　rather　like　one　bearing　a　message　of　disappointment；　anticipating　no　great　show　of　favor；　coming　as　he　did　without　the　expected　friends。　But　instead；　here　was　Heidi；　her　eyes　dancing　for　joy；　and　full　of　gratitude　and　affection；　clinging　to　the　arm　of　her　kind　friend。

He　took　her　by　the　hand　with　fatherly　tenderness。

〃Take　me　now　to　your　grandfather；　Heidi；　and　show　me　where　you　live。〃

But　Heidi　still　remained　standing；　looking　down　the　path　with　a　questioning　gaze。　〃Where　are　Clara　and　grandmother？〃　she　asked。

〃Ah；　now　I　have　to　tell　you　something　which　you　will　be　as　sorry　about　as　I　am；〃　answered　the　doctor。　〃You　see；　Heidi；　I　have　come　alone。　Clara　was　very　ill　and　could　not　travel；　and　so　the　grandmother　stayed　behind　too。　But　next　spring；　when　the　days　grow　warm　and　long　again；　they　are　coming　here　for　certain。〃

Heidi　was　greatly　concerned；　she　could　not　at　first　bring　herself　to　believe　that　what　she　had　for　so　long　been　picturing　to　herself　was　not　going　to　happen　after　all。　She　stood　motionless　for　a　second　or　two；　overcome　by　the　unexpected　disappointment。　The　doctor　said　nothing　further；　all　around　lay　the　silence；　only　the　sighing　of　the　fir　trees　could　be　heard　from　where　they　stood。　Then　Heidi　suddenly　remembered　why　she　had　run　down　there；　and　that　the　doctor　had　really　come。　She　lifted　her　eyes　and　saw　the　sad　expression　in　his　as　he　looked　down　at　her；　she　had　never　seen　him　with　that　look　on　his　face　when　she　was　in　Frankfurt。　It　went　to　Heidi's　heart；　she　could　not　bear　to　see　anybody　unhappy；　especially　her　dear　doctor。　No　doubt　it　was　because　Clara　and　grandmother　could　not　come；　and　so　she　began　to　think　how　best　she　might　console　him。

〃Oh；　it　won't　be　very　long　to　wait　for　spring；　and　then　they　will　be　sure　to　come；〃　she　said　in　a　reassuring　voice。　〃Time　passes　very　quickly　with　us；　and　then　they　will　be　able　to　stay　longer　when　they　are　here；　and　Clara　will　be　pleased　at　that。　Now　let　us　go　and　find　grandfather。〃

Hand　in　hand　with　her　friend　she　climbed　up　to　the　hut。　She　was　so　anxious　to　make　the　doctor　happy　again　that　she　began　once　more　assuring　him　that　the　winter　passed　so　quickly　on　the　mountain　that　it　was　hardly　to　be　taken　account　of；　and　that　summer　would　be　back　again　before　they　knew　it；　and　she　became　so　convinced　of　the　truth　of　her　own　words　t