heidi-第39部分

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d　long　light　days；　that　brought　the　flowers　out　all　over　the　mountain；　so　that　every　spot　was　bright　with　them　and　the　air　full　of　their　sweet　scents。　This　month　too　was　drawing　to　its　close　when　one　day　Heidi；　having　finished　her　domestic　duties；　ran　out　with　the　intention　of　paying　first　a　visit　to　the　fir　trees；　and　then　going　up　higher　to　see　if　the　bush　of　rock　roses　was　yet　in　bloom；　for　its　flowers　were　so　lovely　when　standing　open　in　the　sun。　But　just　as　she　was　turning　the　corner　of　the　hut；　she　gave　such　a　loud　cry　that　her　grandfather　came　running　out　of　the　shed　to　see　what　had　happened。

〃Grandfather；　grandfather！〃　she　cried；　beside　herself　with　excitement。　〃Come　here！　look！　look！〃

The　old　man　was　by　her　side　by　this　time　and　looked　in　the　direction　of　her　outstretched　hand。

A　strange　looking　procession　was　making　its　way　up　the　mountain；　in　front　were　two　men　carrying　a　sedan　chair；　in　which　sat　a　girl　well　wrapped　up　in　shawls；　then　followed　a　horse；　mounted　by　a　stately…looking　lady　who　was　looking　about　her　with　great　interest　and　talking　to　the　guide　who　walked　beside　her；　then　a　reclining　chair；　which　was　being　pushed　up　by　another　man；　it　having　evidently　been　thought　safer　to　send　the　invalid　to　whom　it　belonged　up　the　steep　path　in　a　sedan　chair。　The　procession　wound　up　with　a　porter；　with　such　a　bundle　of　cloaks；　shawls；　and　furs　on　his　back　that　it　rose　well　above　his　head。

〃Here　they　come！　here　they　come！〃　shouted　Heidi；　jumping　with　joy。　And　sure　enough　it　was　the　party　from　Frankfurt；　the　figures　came　nearer　and　nearer；　and　at　last　they　had　actually　arrived。　The　men　in　front　put　down　their　burden；　Heidi　rushed　forward　and　the　two　children　embraced　each　other　with　mutual　delight。　Grandmamma　having　also　reached　the　top；　dismounted；　and　gave　Heidi　an　affectionate　greeting；　before　turning　to　the　grandfather；　who　had　meanwhile　come　up　to　welcome　his　guests。　There　was　no　constraint　about　the　meeting；　for　they　both　knew　each　other　perfectly　well　from　hearsay　and　felt　like　old　acquaintances。

After　the　first　words　of　greeting　had　been　exchanged　grandmamma　broke　out　into　lively　expressions　of　admiration。　〃What　a　magnificent　residence　you　have；　Uncle！　I　could　hardly　have　believed　it　was　so　beautiful！　A　king　might　well　envy　you！　And　how　well　my　little　Heidi　lookslike　a　wild　rose！〃　she　continued；　drawing　the　child　towards　her　and　stroking　her　fresh　pink　cheeks。　〃I　don't　know　which　way　to　look　first；　it　is　all　so　lovely！　What　do　you　say　to　it；　Clara；　what　do　you　say？〃

Clara　was　gazing　round　entranced；　she　had　never　imagined；　much　less　seen；　anything　so　beautiful。　She　gave　vent　to　her　delight　in　cries　of　joy。　〃O　grandmamma；〃　she　said；　〃I　should　like　to　remain　here　for　ever。〃

The　grandfather　had　meanwhile　drawn　up　the　invalid　chair　and　spread　some　of　the　wraps　over　it；　he　now　went　up　to　Clara。

〃Supposing　we　carry　the　little　daughter　now　to　her　accustomed　chair；　I　think　she　will　be　more　comfortable；　the　travelling　sedan　is　rather　hard；〃　he　said；　and　without　waiting　for　any　one　to　help　him　he　lifted　the　child　in　his　strong　arms　and　laid　her　gently　down　on　her　own　couch。　He　then　covered　her　over　carefully　and　arranged　her　feet　on　the　soft　cushion；　as　if　he　had　never　done　anything　all　his　life　but　attend　on　cripples。　The　grandmamma　looked　on　with　surprise。

〃My　dear　Uncle；〃　she　exclaimed；　〃if　I　knew　where　you　had　learned　to　nurse　I　would　at　once　send　all　the　nurses　I　know　to　the　same　place　that　they　might　handle　their　patients　in　like　manner。　How　do　you　come　to　know　so　much？〃

Uncle　smiled。　〃I　know　more　from　experience　than　training；〃　he　answered；　but　as　he　spoke　the　smile　died　away　and　a　look　of　sadness　passed　over　his　face。　The　vision　rose　before　him　of　a　face　of　suffering　that　he　had　known　long　years　before；　the　face　of　a　man　lying　crippled　on　his　couch　of　pain；　and　unable　to　move　a　limb。　The　man　had　been　his　Captain　during　the　fierce　fighting　in　Sicily；　he　had　found　him　lying　wounded　and　had　carried　him　away；　and　after　that　the　captain　would　suffer　no　one　else　near　him；　and　Uncle　had　stayed　and　nursed　him　till　his　sufferings　ended　in　death。　It　all　came　back　to　Uncle　now；　and　it　seemed　natural　to　him　to　attend　on　the　sick　Clara　and　to　show　her　all　those　kindly　attentions　with　which　he　had　been　once　so　familiar。

The　sky　spread　blue　and　cloudless　over　the　hut　and　the　fir　trees　and　far　above　over　the　high　rocks；　the　grey　summits　of　which　glistened　in　the　sun。　Clara　could　not　feast　her　eyes　enough　on　all　the　beauty　around　her。

〃O　Heidi；　if　only　I　could　walk　about　with　you；〃　she　said　longingly；　〃if　I　could　but　go　and　look　at　the　fir　trees　and　at　everything　I　know　so　well　from　your　description；　although　I　have　never　been　here　before。〃

Heidi　in　response　put　out　all　her　strength；　and　after　a　slight　effort；　managed　to　wheel　Clara's　chair　quite　easily　round　the　hut　to　the　fir　trees。　There　they　paused。　Clara　had　never　seen　such　trees　before；　with　their　tall；　straight　stems；　and　long　thick　branches　growing　thicker　and　thicker　till　they　touched　the　ground。　Even　the　grandmamma；　who　had　followed　the　children；　was　astonished　at　the　sight　of　them。　She　hardly　knew　what　to　admire　most　in　these　ancient　trees：　the　lofty　tops　rising　in　their　full　green　splendor　towards　the　sky；　or　the　pillar…like　stems；　with　their　straight　and　gigantic　boughs；　that　spoke　of　such　antiquity　of　age；　of　such　long　years　during　which　they　had　looked　down　upon　the　valley　below；　where　men　came　and　went；　and　all　things　were　continually　changing；　while　they　stood　undisturbed　and　changeless。

Heidi　had　now　wheeled　Clara　on　to　the　goat　shed；　and　had　flung　open　the　door；　so　that　Clara　might　have　a　full　view　of　all　that　was　inside。　There　was　not　much　to　see　just　now　as　its　indwellers　were　absent。　Clara　lamented　to　her　grandmother　that　they　would　have　to　leave　early　before　the　goats　came　home。　〃I　should　so　like　to　have　seen　Peter　and　his　whole　flock。〃

〃Dear　child；　let　us　enjoy　all　the　beautiful　things　that　we　can　see；　and　not　think　about　those　that　we　cannot；〃　grandmamma　replied　as　she　followed　the　chair　which　Heidi　was　pushing　further　on。

〃Oh；　the　flowers！〃　exclaimed　Clara。　〃Look　at　the　bushes　of　red　flowers；　and　all　the　nodding　blue　bells！　Oh；　if　I　could　but　get　but　and　pick　some！〃

Heidi　ran　off　at　once　and　picked　her　a　large　nosegay　of　them。

〃But　these　are　nothing；　Clara；〃　she　said；　laying　the　flowers　on　her　lap。　〃If　you　could　come　up　higher　to　where　the　goats　are　feeding；　then　you　would　indeed　see　something！　Bushes　on　bushes　of　the　red　centaury；　and　ever　so　many　more　of　the　blue　bell…flowers；　and　then　the　bright　yellow　rock　roses；　that　gleam　like　pure　gold；　and　all　crowding　together　in　the　one　spot。　And　then　there　are　others　with　the　large　leaves　that　grandfather　calls　Bright　Eyes；　and　the　brown　ones　with　little　round　heads　that　smell　so　delicious。　Oh；　it　is　beautiful　up　there；　and　if　you　sit　down　among　them　you　never　want　to　get　up　again；　everything　looks　and　smells　so　lovely！〃

Heidi's　eyes　sparkled　with　the　remembrance　of　what　she　was　describing；　she　was　longing　herself　to　see　it　all　again；　and　Clara　caught　her　enthusiasm　and　looked　back　at　her　with　equal　longing　in　her　soft　blue　eyes。

〃Grandmamma；　do　you　think　I　could　get　up　there？　Is　it　possible　for　me　to　go？〃　she　asked　eagerly。　〃If　only　I　could　walk；　climb　about　everywhere　with　you；　Heidi！〃

〃I　am　sure　I　could　push　you　up；　the　chair　goes　so　easily；〃　said　Heidi；　and　in　proof　of　her　words；　she　sent　the　chair　at　such　a　pace　round　the　corner　that　it　nearly　went　flying　down　the　mountain…side。　Grandmamma　being　at　hand；　however；　stopped　it　in　time。

The　grandfather；　meantime；　had　not　been　idle。　He　had　by　this　time　put　the　table　and　extra　chairs　in　front　of　the　seat；　so　that　they　might　all　sit　out　here　and　eat　the　dinner　that　was　preparing　inside。　The　milk　and　the　cheese　were　soon　ready；　and　then　the　company　sat　down　in　high　spirits　to　their　mid…day　meal。

Grandmamma　was　enchanted；　as　the　doctor　had　been；　with　their　dining…room；　whence　one　could　see　far　along　the　valley；　and　far　over　the　mountains　to　the　farthest　stretch　of　blue　sky。　A　light　wind　blew　refreshingly　over　them　as　they　sat　at　table；　and　the　rustling　of　the　fir　trees　made　a　festive　accompaniment　to　the　repast。

〃I　never　enjoyed　anything　as　much　as　this。　It　is　really　superb！〃　cried　grandmamma　two　or　three　times　over；　and　then　suddenly　in　a　tone　of　surprise；

〃Do　I　really　see　you　taking　a　second　piece　of　toasted　cheese；　Clara！〃

There；　sure　enough；　was　a　second　golden…colored　slice　of　cheese　on　Clara's　plate。

〃Oh；　it　does　taste　so　nice；　grandmammabetter　than　all　the　dishes　we　have　at　Ragatz；〃　replied　Clara；　as　she　continued　eating　with　appetite。

〃That's　right；　eat　what　you　can！〃　exclaimed　Uncle。　〃It's　the　mountain　air　which　makes　up　for　the　deficiencies　of　the　kitchen。〃

And　so　the　meal　went　on。　Grandmamma　and　Alm…Uncle　got　on　very　well　together；　and　their　conversation　became　more　and　more　lively。　They　were　so　thoroughly　agreed　in　their　opinions　of　men　and　things　and　the　world　in　general　that　they　might　have　been　taken　for　old　cronies。　The　time　passed　merrily；　and　then　grandmamma　looked　towards　the　west　and　said；

〃We　must　soon　get　ready　to　go；　Clara；　the　sun　is　a　good　way　down；　the　men　will　be　here　directly　with　the　horse　and　sedan。〃

Clara's　face　fell　and　she　said　beseechingly；　〃Oh；　just　another　hour；　grandmamma；　or　two　hours。　We　haven't　seen　inside　the　hut　yet；　or　Heidi's　bed；　or　any　of　the　other　things。　If　only　the　day　was　ten　hours　long！〃

〃Well；　that　is　not　possible；〃　said　grandmamma；　but　she　herself　was　anxious　to　see　inside　the　hut；　so　they　all　rose　from　the　table　and　Uncle　wheeled　Clara's　chair　to　the　door。　But　there　they　came　to　a　standstill；　for　the　chair　was　much　too　broad　to　pass　through　the　door。　Uncle；　however；　soon　settled　the　difficulty　by　lifting　Clara　in　his　strong　arms　and　carrying　her　inside。

Grandmamma　went　all　round　and　examined　the　household　arrangements；　and　was　very　much　amused　and　pleased　at　their　orderliness　and　the　cozy　appearance　of　everything。　〃And　this　is　your　bedroom　up　here；　Heidi；　is　it　not？〃　she　asked；　as　without　trepidation　she　mounted　the　ladder　to　the　hay　loft。　〃Oh；　it　does　smell　sweet；　what　a　healthy　place　to　sleep　in。〃　She　went　up　to　the　round　window