heidi-第40部分

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　loft。　〃Oh；　it　does　smell　sweet；　what　a　healthy　place　to　sleep　in。〃　She　went　up　to　the　round　window　and　looked　out；　and　grandfather　followed　up　with　Clara　in　his　arms；　Heidi　springing　up　after　them。　Then　they　all　stood　and　examined　Heidi's　wonderful　hay…bed；　and　grandmamma　looked　thoughtfully　at　it　and　drew　in　from　time　to　time　fragrant　draughts　of　the　hay…perfumed　air；　while　Clara　was　charmed　beyond　words　with　Heidi's　sleeping　apartment。

〃It　is　delightful　for　you　up　here；　Heidi！　You　can　look　from　your　bed　straight　into　the　sky；　and　then　such　a　delicious　smell　all　round　you！　and　outside　the　fir　trees　waving　and　rustling！　I　have　never　seen　such　a　pleasant；　cheerful　bedroom　before。

Uncle　looked　across　at　the　grandmamma。　〃I　have　been　thinking；〃　he　said　to　her；　〃that　if　you　were　willing　to　agree　to　it；　your　little　granddaughter　might　remain　up　here；　and　I　am　sure　she　would　grow　stronger。　You　have　brought　up　all　kinds　of　shawls　and　covers　with　you；　and　we　could　make　up　a　soft　bed　out　of　them；　and　as　to　the　general　looking　after　the　child；　you　need　have　no　fear；　for　I　will　see　to　that。〃　Clara　and　Heidi　were　as　overjoyed　at　these　words　as　if　they　were　two　birds　let　out　of　their　cages；　and　grandmamma's　face　beamed　with　satisfaction。

〃You　are　indeed　kind；　my　dear　Uncle；〃　she　exclaimed；　〃you　give　words　to　the　thought　that　was　in　my　own　mind。　I　was　only　asking　myself　whether　a　stay　up　here　might　not　be　the　very　thing　she　wanted。　But　then　the　trouble；　the　inconvenience　to　yourself！　And　you　speak　of　nursing　and　looking　after　her　as　if　it　was　a　mere　nothing！　I　thank　you　sincerely；　I　thank　you　from　my　whole　heart；　Uncle。〃　And　she　took　his　hand　and　gave　it　a　long　and　grateful　shake；　which　he　returned　with　a　pleased　expression　of　countenance。

Uncle　immediately　set　to　work　to　get　things　ready。　He　carried　Clara　back　to　her　chair　outside；　Heidi　following；　not　knowing　how　to　jump　high　enough　into　the　air　to　express　her　contentment。　Then　he　gathered　up　a　whole　pile　of　shawls　and　furs　and　said；　smiling；　〃It　is　a　good　thing　that　grandmamma　came　up　well　provided　for　a　winter's　campaign；　we　shall　be　able　to　make　good　use　of　these。〃

〃Foresight　is　a　virtue；〃　responded　the　lady；　amused；　〃and　prevents　many　misfortunes。　If　we　have　made　the　journey　over　your　mountains　without　meeting　with　storms；　winds　and　cloud…bursts；　we　can　only　be　thankful；　which　we　are；　and　my　provision　against　these　disasters　now　comes　in　usefully；　as　you　say。〃

The　two　had　meanwhile　ascended　to　the　hay…loft　and　begun　to　prepare　a　bed；　there　were　so　many　articles　piled　one　over　the　other　that　when　finished　it　looked　like　a　regular　little　fortress。　Grandmamma　passed　her　hand　carefully　over　it　to　make　sure　there　were　no　bits　of　hay　sticking　out。　〃If　there's　a　bit　that　can　come　through　it　will；〃　she　said。　The　soft　mattress；　however；　was　so　smooth　and　thick　that　nothing　could　penetrate　it。　Then　they　went　down　again；　well　satisfied；　and　found　the　children　laughing　and　talking　together　and　arranging　all　they　were　going　to　do　from　morning　till　evening　as　long　as　Clara　stayed。　The　next　question　was　how　long　she　was　to　remain；　and　first　grandmamma　was　asked；　but　she　referred　them　to　the　grandfather；　who　gave　it　as　his　opinion　that　she　ought　to　make　the　trial　of　the　mountain　air　for　at　least　a　month。　The　children　clapped　their　hands　for　joy；　for　they　had　not　expected　to　be　together　for　so　long　a　time。

The　bearers　and　the　horse　and　guide　were　now　seen　approaching；　the　former　were　sent　back　at　once；　and　grandmamma　prepared　to　mount　for　her　return　journey。

〃It's　not　saying　good…bye；　grandmamma；〃　Clara　called　out；　〃for　you　will　come　up　now　and　then　and　see　how　we　are　getting　on；　and　we　shall　so　look　forward　to　your　visits；　shan't　we；　Heidi？〃

Heidi；　who　felt　that　life　this　day　had　been　crowded　with　pleasures；　could　only　respond　to　Clara　with　another　jump　of　joy。

Grandmamma　being　now　seated　on　her　sturdy　animal；　Uncle　took　the　bridle　to　lead　her　down　the　steep　mountain　path；　she　begged　him　not　to　come　far　with　her；　but　he　insisted　on　seeing　her　safely　as　far　as　Dorfli；　for　the　way　was　precipitous　and　not　without　danger　for　the　rider；　he　said。

Grandmamma　did　not　care　to　stay　alone　in　Dorfli；　and　therefore　decided　to　return　to　Ragatz；　and　thence　to　make　excursions　up　the　mountain　from　time　to　time。

Peter　came　down　with　his　goats　before　Uncle　had　returned。　As　soon　as　the　animals　caught　sight　of　Heidi　they　all　came　flocking　towards　her；　and　she；　as　well　as　Clara　on　her　couch；　were　soon　surrounded　by　the　goats；　pushing　and　poking　their　heads　one　over　the　other；　while　Heidi　introduced　each　in　turn　by　its　name　to　her　friend　Clara。

It　was　not　long　before　the　latter　had　made　the　long…wished…for　acquaintance　of　little　Snowflake；　the　lively　Greenfinch；　and　the　well…behaved　goats　belonging　to　grandfather；　as　well　as　of　the　many　others；　including　the　Grand　Turk。　Peter　meanwhile　stood　apart　looking　on；　and　casting　somewhat　unfriendly　glances　towards　Clara。

When　the　two　children　called　out；　〃Good…evening；　Peter；〃　he　made　no　answer；　but　swung　up　his　stick　angrily；　as　if　wanting　to　cut　the　air　in　two；　and　then　ran　off　with　his　goats　after　him。

The　climax　to　all　the　beautiful　things　that　Clara　had　already　seen　upon　the　mountain　came　at　the　close　of　the　day。

As　she　lay　on　the　large　soft　bed　in　the　hay　loft；　with　Heidi　near　her；　she　looked　out　through　the　round　open　window　right　into　the　middle　of　the　shining　clusters　of　stars；　and　she　exclaimed　in　delight；

〃Heidi；　it's　just　as　if　we　were　in　a　high　carriage　and　were　going　to　drive　straight　into　heaven。〃

〃Yes；　and　do　you　know　why　the　stars　are　so　happy　and　look　down　and　nod　to　us　like　that？〃　asked　Heidi。

〃No；　why　is　it？〃　Clara　asked　in　return。

〃Because　they　live　up　in　heaven；　and　know　how　well　God　arranges　everything　for　us；　so　that　we　need　have　no　more　fear　or　trouble　and　may　be　quite　sure　that　all　things　will　come　right　in　the　end。　That's　why　they　are　so　happy；　and　they　nod　to　us　because　they　want　us　to　be　happy　too。　But　then　we　must　never　forget　to　pray；　and　to　ask　God　to　remember　us　when　He　is　arranging　things；　so　that　we　too　may　feel　safe　and　have　no　anxiety　about　what　is　going　to　happen。〃

The　two　children　now　sat　up　and　said　their　prayers；　and　then　Heidi　put　her　head　down　on　her　little　round　arm　and　fell　off　to　sleep　at　once；　but　Clara　lay　awake　some　time；　for　she　could　not　get　over　the　wonder　of　this　new　experience　of　being　in　bed　up　here　among　the　stars。　She　had　indeed　seldom　seen　a　star；　for　she　never　went　outside　the　house　at　night；　and　the　curtains　at　home　were　always　drawn　before　the　stars　came　out。　Each　time　she　closed　her　eyes　she　felt　she　must　open　them　again　to　see　if　the　two　very　large　stars　were　still　looking　in；　and　nodding　to　her　as　Heidi　said　they　did。　There　they　were；　always　in　the　same　place；　and　Clara　felt　she　could　not　look　long　enough　into　their　bright　sparkling　faces；　until　at　last　her　eyes　closed　of　their　own　accord；　and　it　was　only　in　her　dreams　that　she　still　saw　the　two　large　friendly　stars　shining　down　upon　her。



CHAPTER　XXI。　HOW　LIFE　WENT　ON　AT　GRANDFATHER'S

The　sun　had　just　risen　above　the　mountains　and　was　shedding　its　first　golden　rays　over　the　hut　and　the　valley　below。　Alm…Uncle；　as　was　his　custom；　had　been　standing　in　a　quiet　and；　devout　attitude　for　some　little　while；　watching　the　light　mists　gradually　lifting；　and　the　heights　and　valley　emerging　from　their　twilight　shadows　and　awakening　to　another　day。

The　light　morning　clouds　overhead　grew　brighter　and　brighter；　till　at　last　the　sun　shone　out　in　its　full　glory；　and　rock　and　wood　and　hill　lay　bathed　in　golden　light。

Uncle　now　stepped　back　into　the　hut　and　went　softly　up　the　ladder。　Clara　had　just　opened　her　eyes　and　was　looking　with　wonder　at　the　bright　sunlight　that　shone　through　the　round　window　and　danced　and　sparkled　about　her　bed。　She　could　not　at　first　think　what　she　was　looking　at　or　where　she　was。　Then　she　caught　sight　of　Heidi　sleeping　beside　her；　and　now　she　heard　the　grandfather's　cheery　voice　asking　her　if　she　had　slept　well　and　was　feeling　rested。　She　assured　him　she　was　not　tired；　and　that　when　she　had　once　fallen　asleep　she　had　not　opened　her　eyes　again　all　night。　The　grandfather　was　satisfied　at　this　and　immediately　began　to　attend　upon　her　with　so　much　gentleness　and　understanding　that　it　seemed　as　if　his　chief　calling　had　been　to　look　after　sick　children。

Heidi　now　awoke　and　was　surprised　to　see　Clara　dressed；　and　already　in　the　grandfather's　arms　ready　to　be　carried　down。　She　must　be　up　too；　and　she　went　through　her　toilette　with　lightning…like　speed。　She　ran　down　the　ladder　and　out　of　the　hut；　and　there　further　astonishment　awaited　her；　for　grandfather　had　been　busy　the　night　before　after　they　were　in　bed。　Seeing　that　it　was　impossible　to　get　Clara's　chair　through　the　hut…door；　he　had　taken　down　two　of　the　boards　at　the　side　of　the　shed　and　made　an　opening　large　enough　to　admit　the　chair；　these　he　left　loose　so　that　they　could　be　taken　away　and　put　up　at　pleasure。　He　was　at　this　moment　wheeling　Clara　out　into　the　sun；　he　left　her　in　front　of　the　hut　while　he　went　to　look　after　the　goats；　and　Heidi　ran　up　to　her　friend。

The　fresh　morning　breeze　blew　round　the　children's　faces；　and　every　fresh　puff　brought　a　waft　of　fragrance　from　the　fir　trees。　Clara　drew　it　in　with　delight　and　lay　back　in　her　chair　with　an　unaccustomed　feeling　of　health　and　comfort。

It　was　the　first　time　in　her　life　that　she　had　been　out　in　the　open　country　at　this　early　hour　and　felt　the　fresh　morning　breeze；　and　the　pure　mountain　air　was　so　cool　and　refreshing　that　every　breath　she　drew　was　a　pleasure。　And　then　the　bright　sweet　sun；　which　was　not　hot　and　sultry　up　here；　but　lay　soft　and　warm　on　her　hands　and　on　the　grass　at　her　feet。　Clara　had　not　imagined　that　it　would　be　like　this　on　the　mountain。

〃O　Heidi；　if　only　I　could　stay　up　here　for　ever　with　you；〃　she　exclaimed　happily；　turning　in　her　chair　from　side　to　side　that　she　might　drink　in　the　air　and　sun　from　all　quarters。

〃Now　you　see　that　it　is　just　what　I　told　you；〃　replied　Heidi　delighted；　〃that　it　is　the　most　beautiful　thing　in　the　world　to　be　up　here　with　grandfather。〃

The　latter　at　that　moment　appeared　coming　from　the　goat　shed　and　bringing　two　small　foamin