heidi-第16节
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de into the dining…room； where she poured forth her troubles and explained to him the awkward position in which she was placed； and how it had all come about。 It appeared that she had written some time back to Herr Sesemann to tell him that his daughter very much wished to have a companion； and had added how desirable she thought it herself； as it would be a spur to Clara at her lessons and an amusement for her in her playtime。 Fraulein Rottenmeier had privately wished for this arrangement on her own behalf； as it would relieve her from having always to entertain the sick girl herself； which she felt at times was too much for her。 The father had answered that he was quite willing to let his daughter have a companion； provided she was treated in every way like his own child； as he would not have any child tormented or put upon which was a very unnecessary remark；〃 put in Fraulein Rottenmeier； 〃for who wants to torment children！〃 But now she went on to explain how dreadfully she had been taken in about the child； and related all the unimaginable things of which she had already been guilty； so that not only would he have to begin with teaching her the A B C； but would have to start with the most rudimentary instruction as regarded everything to do with daily life。 She could see only one way out of this disastrous state of affairs； and that was for the tutor to declare that it was impossible for the two to learn together without detriment to Clara； who was so far ahead of the other； that would be a valid excuse for getting rid of the child； and Herr Sesemann would be sure to agree to the child being sent home again； but she dared not do this without his order； since he was aware that by this time the companion had arrived。 But the tutor was a cautious man and not inclined to take a partial view of matters。 He tried to calm Fraulein Rottenmeier； and gave it as his opinion that if the little girl was backward in some things she was probably advanced in others； and a little regular teaching would soon set the balance right。 When Fraulein Rottenmeier saw that he was not ready to support her； and evidently quite ready to undertake teaching the alphabet； she opened the study door； which she quickly shut again as soon as he had gone through； remaining on the other side herself； for she had a perfect horror of the A B C。 She walked up and down the dining…room； thinking over in her own mind how the servants were to be told to address Adelaide。 The father had written that she was to be treated exactly like his own daughter； and this would especially refer； she imagined； to the servants。 She was not allowed； however； a very long interval of time for consideration； for suddenly the sound of a frightful crash was heard in the study； followed by frantic cries for Sebastian。 She rushed into the room。 There on the floor lay in a confused heap； books； exercise…books； inkstand； and other articles with the table…cloth on the top； while from beneath them a dark stream of ink was flowing all across the floor。 Heidi had disappeared。
〃Here's a state of things！〃 exclaimed Fraulein Rottenmeier； wringing her hands。 〃Table…cloth； books； work…basket； everything lying in the ink！ It was that unfortunate child； I suppose！〃
The tutor was standing looking down at the havoc in distress； there was certainly only one view to be taken of such a matter as this and that an unfavorable one。 Clara meanwhile appeared to find pleasure in such an unusual event and in watching the results。 〃Yes； Heidi did it；〃 she explained； 〃but quite by accident； she must on no account be punished； she jumped up in such violent haste to get away that she dragged the tablecloth along with her； and so everything went over。 There were a number of vehicles passing； that is why she rushed off like that； perhaps she has never seen a carriage。〃
〃Is it not as I said？ She has not the smallest notion about anything！ not the slightest idea that she ought to sit still and listen while her lessons are going on。 But where is the child who has caused all this trouble？ Surely she has not run away！ What would Herr Sesemann say to me？〃 She ran out of the room and down the stairs。 There； at the bottom； standing in the open door…way； was Heidi； looking in amazement up and down the street。
〃What are you doing？ What are you thinking of to run away like that？〃 called Fraulein Rottenmeier。
〃I heard the sound of the fir trees； but I cannot see where they are； and now I cannot hear them any more；〃 answered Heidi； looking disappointedly in the direction whence the noise of the passing carriages had reached her； and which to Heidi had seemed like the blowing of the south wind in the trees； so that in great joy of heart she had rushed out to look at them。
〃Fir trees！ do you suppose we are in a wood？ What ridiculous ideas are these？ Come upstairs and see the mischief you have done！〃
Heidi turned and followed Fraulein Rottenmeier upstairs； she was quite astonished to see the disaster she had caused； for in her joy and haste to get to the fir trees she had been unaware of having dragged everything after her。
〃I excuse you doing this as it is the first time； but do not let me know you doing it a second time；〃 said Fraulein Rottenmeier； pointing to the floor。 〃During your lesson time you are to sit still and attend。 If you cannot do this I shall have to tie you to your chair。 Do you understand？〃
〃Yes；〃 replied Heidi； 〃but I will certainly not move again；〃 for now she understood that it was a rule to sit still while she was being taught。
Sebastian and Tinette were now sent for to clear up the broken articles and put things in order again； the tutor said good…morning and left； as it was impossible to do any more lessons that day； there had been certainly no time for gaping this morning。
Clara had to rest for a certain time during the afternoon； and during this interval； as Fraulein Rottenmeier informed Heidi； the latter might amuse herself as she liked。 When Clara had been placed on her couch after dinner； and the lady…housekeeper had retired to her room； Heidi knew that her time had come to choose her own occupation。 It was just what she was longing for； as there was something she had made up her mind to do； but she would require some help for its accomplishment； and in view of this she took her stand in the hall in front of the dining…room door in order to intercept the person she wanted。 In a few minutes up came Sebastian from the kitchen with a tray of silver tea…things； which he had to put away in the dining…room cupboard。 As he reached the top stairs Heidi went up to him and addressed him in the formal manner she had been ordered to use by Fraulein Rottenmeier。
Sebastian looked surprised and said somewhat curtly； 〃What is it you want； miss？〃
〃I only wished to ask you something； but it is nothing bad like this morning；〃 said Heidi； anxious to conciliate him； for she saw that Sebastian was rather in a cross temper； and quite thought that it was on account of the ink she had spilt on the floor。
〃Indeed； and why； I should first like to know； do you address me like that？〃 replied Sebastian； evidently still put out。
〃Fraulein Rottenmeier told me always to speak to you like that；〃 said Heidi。
Then Sebastian laughed； which very much astonished Heidi； who had seen nothing amusing in the conversation； but Sebastian； now he understood that the child was only obeying orders； added in a friendly voice； 〃What is it then that miss wants？〃
It was now Heidi's turn to be a little put out； and she said； 〃My name is not miss； it is Heidi。〃
〃Quite so； but the same lady has ordered me to call you miss；〃 explained Sebastian。
〃Has she？ oh； then I must be called so；〃 said Heidi submissively； for she had already noticed that whatever Fraulein Rottenmeier said was law。 〃Then now I have three names；〃 she added with a sigh。
〃What was it little miss wished to ask？〃 said Sebastian as he went on into the dining…room to put away his silver。
〃How can a window be opened？〃
〃Why； like that！〃 and Sebastian flung up one of the large windows。
Heidi ran to it； but she was not tall enough to see out； for her head only reached the sill。
〃There； now miss can look out and see what is going on below；〃 said Sebastian as he brought her a high wooden stool to stand on。
Heidi climbed up； and at last； as she thought； was going to see what she had been longing for。 But she drew back her head with a look of great disappointment on her face。
〃Why； there is nothing outside but the stony streets；〃 she said mournfully； 〃but if I went right round to the other side of the house what should I see there； Sebastian？〃
〃Nothing but what you see here；〃 he told her。
〃Then where can I go to see right away over the whole valley？〃
〃You would have to climb to the top of a high tower； a church tower； like that one over there with the gold ball above it。 From there you can see right away ever so far。〃
Heidi climbed down quickly from her stool； ran to the door； down the steps and out into the street。 Things were not； however； quite so easy as she thought。 Looking from the window the tower had appeared so close that she imagined she had only to run over the road to reach it。 But now； although she ran along the who
