heidi-第27节

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sed　since　they　first　sat　down　together；　and　as　the　master　himself　opened　the　hall　door　this　time　the　morning　light　shone　down　through　it　into　the　house。



CHAPTER　XIII。　　A　SUMMER　EVENING　ON　THE　MOUNTAIN

Herr　Sesemann；　a　good　deal　irritated　and　excited；　went　quickly　upstairs　and　along　the　passage　to　Fraulein　Rottenmeier's　room；　and　there　gave　such　an　unusually　loud　knock　at　the　door　that　the　lady　awoke　from　sleep　with　a　cry　of　alarm。　She　heard　the　master　of　the　house　calling　to　her　from　the　other　side　of　the　door；　〃Please　make　haste　and　come　down　to　me　in　the　dining…room；　we　must　make　ready　for　a　journey　at　once。〃　Fraulein　Rottenmeier　looked　at　her　clock：　it　was　just　half…past　four；　she　had　never　got　up　so　early　before　in　her　life。　What　could　have　happened？　What　with　her　curiosity　and　excitement　she　took　hold　of　everything　the　wrong　way；　and　it　was　a　case　with　her　of　more　haste　less　speed；　for　she　kept　on　searching　everywhere　for　garments　which　she　had　already　put　on。

Meanwhile　Herr　Sesemann　had　gone　on　farther　and　rung　the　bells　in　turn　which　communicated　with　the　several　servants'　rooms；　causing　frightened　figures　to　leap　out　of　bed；　convinced　that　the　ghost　had　attacked　the　master　and　that　he　was　calling　for　help。　One　by　one　they　made　their　appearance　in　the　dining…room；　each　with　a　more　terrified　face　than　the　last；　and　were　astonished　to　see　their　master　walking　up　and　down；　looking　well　and　cheerful；　and　with　no　appearance　of　having　had　an　encounter　with　a　ghost。　John　was　sent　off　without　delay　to　get　the　horses　and　carriage　ready；　Tinette　was　ordered　to　wake　Heidi　and　get　her　dressed　for　a　journey；　Sebastian　was　hurried　off　to　the　house　where　Dete　was　in　service　to　bring　the　latter　round。　Then　Fraulein　Rottenmeier；　having　at　last　accomplished　her　toilet；　came　down；　with　everything　well　adjusted　about　her　except　her　cap；　which　was　put　on　hind　side　before。　Herr　Sesemann　put　down　her　flurried　appearance　to　the　early　awakening　he　had　caused　her；　and　began　without　delay　to　give　her　directions。　She　was　to　get　out　a　trunk　at　once　and　pack　up　all　the　things　belonging　to　the　Swiss　childfor　so　he　usually　spoke　of　Heidi；　being　unaccustomed　to　her　nameand　a　good　part　of　Clara's　clothes　as　well；　so　that　the　child　might　take　home　proper　apparel；　but　everything　was　to　be　done　immediately；　as　there　was　no　time　for　consideration。

Fraulein　Rottenmeier　stood　as　if　rooted　to　the　spot　and　stared　in　astonishment　at　Herr　Sesemann。　She　had　quite　expected　a　long　and　private　account　of　some　terrible　ghostly　experience　of　his　during　the　night；　which　she　would　have　enjoyed　hearing　about　in　the　broad　daylight。　Instead　of　this　there　were　these　prosaic　and　troublesome　directions；　which　were　so　unexpected　that　she　took　some　time　to　get　over　her　surprise　and　disappointment；　and　continued　standing　awaiting　further　explanation。

But　Herr　Sesemann　had　no　thought　or　time　for　explanations　and　left　her　standing　there　while　he　went　to　speak　to　Clara。　As　he　anticipated；　the　unusual　commotion　in　the　house　had　disturbed　her；　and　she　was　lying　and　listening　and　wondering　what　had　happened。　So　he　sat　down　and　told　her　everything　that　had　occurred　during　the　past　night；　and　explained　that　the　doctor　had　given　his　verdict　and　pronounced　Heidi　to　be　in　a　very　highly　strung　state；　so　that　her　nightly　wanderings　might　gradually　lead　her　farther　and　farther；　perhaps　even　on　to　the　roof；　which　of　course　would　be　very　dangerous　for　her。　And　so　they　had　decided　to　send　her　home　at　once；　as　he　did　not　like　to　take　the　responsibility　of　her　remaining；　and　Clara　would　see　for　herself　that　it　was　the　only　thing　to　do。　Clara　was　very　much　distressed；　and　at　first　made　all　kinds　of　suggestions　for　keeping　Heidi　with　her；　but　her　father　was　firm；　and　promised　her；　if　she　would　be　reasonable　and　make　no　further　fuss；　that　he　would　take　her　to　Switzerland　next　summer。　So　Clara　gave　in　to　the　inevitable；　only　stipulating　that　the　box　might　be　brought　into　her　room　to　be　packed；　so　that　she　might　add　whatever　she　liked；　and　her　father　was　only　too　pleased　to　let　her　provide　a　nice　outfit　for　the　child。　Meanwhile　Dete　had　arrived　and　was　waiting　in　the　hall；　wondering　what　extraordinary　event　had　come　to　pass　for　her　to　be　sent　for　at　such　an　unusual　hour。　Herr　Sesemann　informed　her　of　the　state　Heidi　was　in；　and　that　he　wished　her　that　very　day　to　take　her　home。　Dete　was　greatly　disappointed；　for　she　had　not　expected　such　a　piece　of　news。　She　remembered　Uncle's　last　words；　that　he　never　wished　to　set　eyes　on　her　again；　and　it　seemed　to　her　that　to　take　back　the　child　to　him；　after　having　left　it　with　him　once　and　then　taken　it　away　again；　was　not　a　safe　or　wise　thing　for　her　to　do。　So　she　excused　herself　to　Herr　Sesemann　with　her　usual　flow　of　words；　to…day　and　to…morrow　it　would　be　quite　impossible　for　her　to　take　the　journey；　and　there　was　so　much　to　do　that　she　doubted　if　she　could　get　off　on　any　of　the　following　days。　Herr　Sesemann　understood　that　she　was　unwilling　to　go　at　all；　and　so　dismissed　her。　Then　he　sent　for　Sebastian　and　told　him　to　make　ready　to　start：　he　was　to　travel　with　the　child　as　far　as　Basle　that　day；　and　the　next　day　take　her　home。　He　would　give　him　a　letter　to　carry　to　the　grandfather；　which　would　explain　everything；　and　he　himself　could　come　back　by　return。

〃But　there　is　one　thing　in　particular　which　I　wish　you　to　look　after；〃　said　Herr　Sesemann　in　conclusion；　〃and　be　sure　you　attend　to　what　I　say。　I　know　the　people　of　this　hotel　in　Basle；　the　name　of　which　I　give　you　on　this　card。　They　will　see　to　providing　rooms　for　the　child　and　you。　When　there；　go　at　once　into　the　child's　room　and　see　that　the　windows　are　all　firmly　fastened　so　that　they　cannot　be　easily　opened。　After　the　child　is　in　bed；　lock　the　door　of　her　room　on　the　outside；　for　the　child　walks　in　her　sleep　and　might　run　into　danger　in　a　strange　house　if　she　went　wandering　downstairs　and　tried　to　open　the　front　door；　so　you　understand？〃

〃Oh！　then　that　was　it？〃　exclaimed　Sebastian；　for　now　a　light　was　thrown　on　the　ghostly　visitations。

〃Yes；　that　was　it！　and　you　are　a　coward；　and　you　may　tell　John　he　is　the　same；　and　the　whole　household　a　pack　of　idiots。〃　And　with　this　Herr　Sesemann　went　off　to　his　study　to　write　a　letter　to　Alm…Uncle。　Sebastian　remained　standing；　feeling　rather　foolish。

If　only　I　had　not　let　that　fool　of　a　John　drag　me　back　into　the　room；　and　had　gone　after　the　little　white　figure；　which　I　should　do　certainly　if　I　saw　it　now！〃　he　kept　on　saying　to　himself；　but　just　now　every　corner　of　the　room　was　clearly　visible　in　the　daylight。

Meanwhile　Heidi　was　standing　expectantly　dressed　in　her　Sunday　frock　waiting　to　see　what　would　happen　next；　for　Tinette　had　only　woke　her　up　with　a　shake　and　put　on　her　clothes　without　a　word　of　explanation。　The　little　uneducated　child　was　far　too　much　beneath　her　for　Tinette　to　speak　to。

Herr　Sesemann　went　back　to　the　dining…room　with　the　letter；　breakfast　was　now　ready；　and　he　asked；　〃Where　is　the　child？〃

Heidi　was　fetched；　and　as　she　walked　up　to　him　to　say　〃Good…morning；〃　he　looked　inquiringly　into　her　face　and　said；　〃Well；　what　do　you　say　to　this；　little　one？〃

Heidi　looked　at　him　in　perplexity。

〃Why；　you　don't　know　anything　about　it；　I　see；〃　laughed　Herr　Sesemann。　〃You　are　going　home　today；　going　at　once。〃

〃Home；〃　murmured　Heidi　in　a　low　voice；　turning　pale；　she　was　so　overcome　that　for　a　moment　or　two　she　could　hardly　breathe。

〃Don't　you　want　to　hear　more　about　it？〃

〃Oh；　yes；　yes！〃　exclaimed　Heidi；　her　face　now　rosy　with　delight。

〃All　right；　then；〃　said　Herr　Sesemann　as　he　sat　down　and　made　her　a　sign　to　do　the　same；　〃but　now　make　a　good　breakfast；　and　then　off　you　go　in　the　carriage。〃

But　Heidi　could　not　swallow　a　morsel　though　she　tried　to　do　what　she　was　told；　she　was　in　such　a　state　of　excitement　that　she　hardly　knew　if　she　was　awake　or　dreaming；　or　if　she　would　again　open　her　eyes　to　find　herself　in　her　nightgown　at　the　front　door。

〃Tell　Sebastian　to　take　plenty　of　provisions　with　him；〃　Herr　Sesemann　called　out　to　Fraulein　Rottenmeier；　who　just　then　came　into　the　room；　〃the　child　can't　eat　anything　now；　which　is　quite　natural。　Now　run　up　to　Clara　and　stay　with　her　till　the　carriage　comes　round；〃　he　added　kindly；　turning　to　Heidi。

Heidi　had　been　longing　for　this；　and　ran　quickly　upstairs。　An　immense　trunk　was　standing　open　in　the　middle　of　the　room。

〃Come　along；　Heidi；〃　cried　Clara；　as　she　entered；　〃see　all　the　things　I　have　had　put　in　for　youaren't　you　pleased？〃

And　she　ran　over　a　list　of　things；　dresses　and　aprons　and　handkerchiefs；　and　all　kinds　of　working　materials。　〃And　look　here；〃　she　added；　as　she　triumphantly　held　up　a　basket。　Heidi　peeped　in　and　jumped　for　joy；　for　inside　it　were　twelve　beautiful　round　white　rolls；　all　for　grandmother。　In　their　delight　the　children　forgot　that　the　time　had　come　for　them　to　separate；　and　when　some　one　called　out；　〃The　carriage　is　here；〃　there　was　no　time　for　grieving。

Heidi　ran　to　her　room　to　fetch　her　darling　book；　she　knew　no　one　could　have　packed　that；　as　it　lay　under　her　pillow；　for　Heidi　had　kept　it　by　her　night　and　day。　This　was　put　in　the　basket　with　the　rolls。　Then　she　opened　her　wardrobe　to　look　for　another　treasure；　which　perhaps　no　one