heidi-第15节
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Meanwhile Sebastian had flung open the folding doors leading into the dining…room with rather more noise than he need； for he was feeling furious； although he did not dare answer back when Fraulein Rottenmeier spoke to him； he then went up to Clara's chair to wheel her into the next room。 As he was arranging the handle at the back preparatory to doing so； Heidi went near and stood staring at him。 Seeing her eyes fixed upon him； he suddenly growled out； 〃Well； what is there in me to stare at like that？〃 which he would certainly not have done if he had been aware that Fraulein Rottenmeier was just then entering the room。 〃You look so like Peter；〃 answered Heidi。 The lady…housekeeper clasped her hands in horror。 〃Is it possible！〃 she stammered half…aloud； 〃she is now addressing the servant as if he were a friend！ I never could have imagined such a child！〃
Sebastian wheeled the couch into the dining…room and helped Clara on to her chair。 Fraulein Rottenmeier took the seat beside her and made a sign to Heidi to take the one opposite。 They were the only three at table； and as they sat far apart there was plenty of room for Sebastian to hand his dishes。 Beside Heidi's plate lay a nice white roll； and her eyes lighted up with pleasure as she saw it。 The resemblance which Heidi had noticed had evidently awakened in her a feeling of confidence towards Sebastian； for she sat as still as a mouse and without moving until he came up to her side and handed her the dish of fish； then she looked at the roll and asked； 〃Can I have it？〃 Sebastian nodded； throwing a side glance at Fraulein Rottenmeier to see what effect this request would have upon her。 Heidi immediately seized the roll and put it in her pocket。 Sebastian's face became convulsed； he was overcome with inward laughter but knew his place too well to laugh aloud。 Mute and motionless he still remained standing beside Heidi； it was not his duty to speak； nor to move away until she had helped herself。 Heidi looked wonderingly at him for a minute or two； and then said； 〃Am I to eat some of that too？〃 Sebastian nodded again。 〃Give me some then；〃 she said； looking calmly at her plate。 At this Sebastian's command of his countenance became doubtful； and the dish began to tremble suspiciously in his hands。
〃You can put the dish on the table and come back presently；〃 said Fraulein Rottenmeier with a severe expression of face。 Sebastian disappeared on the spot。 〃As for you； Adelaide； I see I shall have to teach you the first rules of behavior；〃 continued the lady…housekeeper with a sigh。 〃I will begin by explaining to you how you are to conduct yourself at table；〃 and she went on to give Heidi minute instructions as to all she was to do。 〃And now；〃 she continued； 〃I must make you particularly understand that you are not to speak to Sebastian at table； or at any other time； unless you have an order to give him； or a necessary question to put to him； and then you are not to address him as if he was some one belonging to you。 Never let me hear you speak to him in that way again！ It is the same with Tinette； and for myself you are to address me as you hear others doing。 Clara must herself decide what you are to call her。〃
〃Why； Clara； of course；〃 put the latter。 Then followed a long list of rules as to general behavior； getting up and going to bed； going in and out of the room； shutting the doors； keeping everything tidy； during the course of which Heidi's eyes gradually closed； for she had been up before five o'clock that morning and had had a long journey。 She leant back in her chair and fell fast asleep。 Fraulein Rottenmeier having at last come to the end of her sermonizing said； 〃Now remember what I have said； Adelaide！ Have you understood it all？〃
〃Heidi has been asleep for ever so long；〃 said Clara； her face rippling all over with amusement； for she had not had such an entertaining dinner for a long time。
〃It is really insupportable what one has to go through with this child；〃 exclaimed Fraulein Rottenmeier； in great indignation； and she rang the bell so violently that Tinette and Sebastian both came running in and nearly tumbling over one another； but no noise was sufficient to wake Heidi； and it was with difficulty they could rouse her sufficiently to get her along to her bedroom； to reach which she had to pass first through the study； then through Clara's bedroom； then through Fraulein Rottenmeier's sitting…room； till she came to the corner room that had been set apart for her。
CHAPTER VII。 FRAULEIN ROTTENMEIER SPENDS AN UNCOMFORTABLE DAY
When Heidi opened her eyes on her first morning in Frankfurt she could not think where she was。 Then she rubbed them and looked about her。 She was sitting up in a high white bed； on one side of a large； wide room； into which the light was falling through very； very long white curtains； near the window stood two chairs covered with large flowers； and then came a sofa with the same flowers； in front of which was a round table； in the corner was a washstand； with things upon it that Heidi had never seen in her life before。 But now all at once she remembered that she was in Frankfurt； everything that had happened the day before came back to her； and finally she recalled clearly the instructions that had been given her by the lady…housekeeper； as far as she had heard them。 Heidi jumped out of bed and dressed herself； then she ran first to one window and then another； she wanted to see the sky and country outside； she felt like a bird in a cage behind those great curtains。 But they were too heavy for her to put aside； so she crept underneath them to get to the window。 But these again were so high that she could only just get her head above the sill to peer out。 Even then she could not see what she longed for。 In vain she went first to one and then the other of the windowsshe could see nothing but walls and windows and again walls and windows。 Heidi felt quite frightened。 It was still early； for Heidi was accustomed to get up early and run out at once to see how everything was looking； if the sky was blue and if the sun was already above the mountains； or if the fir trees were waving and the flowers had opened their eyes。 As a bird； when it first finds itself in its bright new cage； darts hither and thither； trying the bars in turn to see if it cannot get through them and fly again into the open； so Heidi continued to run backwards and forwards； trying to open first one and then the other of the windows； for she felt she could not bear to see nothing but walls and windows； and somewhere outside there must be the green grass； and the last unmelted snows on the mountain slopes； which Heidi so longed to see。 But the windows remained immovable； try what Heidi would to open them； even endeavoring to push her little fingers under them to lift them up； but it was all no use。 When after a while Heidi saw that her efforts were fruitless； she gave up trying； and began to think whether she would not go out and round the house till she came to the grass； but then she remembered that the night before she had only seen stones in front of the house。 At that moment a knock came to the door； and immediately after Tinette put her head inside and said； 〃Breakfast is ready。〃 Heidi had no idea what an invitation so worded meant； and Tinette's face did not encourage any questioning on Heidi's part； but rather the reverse。 Heidi was sharp enough to read its expression； and acted accordingly。 So she drew the little stool out from under the table； put it in the corner and sat down upon it； and there silently awaited what would happen next。 Shortly after； with a good deal of rustling and bustling Fraulein Rottenmeier appeared； who again seemed very much put out and called to Heidi； 〃What is the matter with you； Adelheid？ Don't you understand what breakfast is？ Come along at once！〃
Heidi had no difficulty in understanding now and followed at once。 Clara had been some time at the breakfast table and she gave Heidi a kindly greeting； her face looking considerably more cheerful than usual； for she looked forward to all kinds of new things happening again that day。 Breakfast passed off quietly； Heidi eat her bread and butter in a perfectly correct manner； and when the meal was over and Clara wheeled back into the study； Fraulein Rottenmeier told her to follow and remain with Clara until the tutor should arrive and lessons begin。
As soon as the children were alone again； Heidi asked； 〃How can one see out from here； and look right down on to the ground？〃
〃You must open the window and look out；〃 replied Clara amused。
〃But the windows won't open；〃 responded Heidi sadly。
〃Yes； they will；〃 Clara assured her。 〃You cannot open them； nor I either； but when you see Sebastian you can ask him to open one。〃
It was a great relief to Heidi to know that the windows could be opened and that one could look out； for she still felt as if she was shut up in prison。 Clara now began to ask her questions about her home； and Heidi was delighted to tell her all about the mountain and the goats； and the flowery meadows which were so dear to her。
Meanwhile her tutor had arrived； Fraulein Rottenmeier； however； did not bring him straight into the study but drew him first aside into the
