heidi-第28节
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ket with the rolls。 Then she opened her wardrobe to look for another treasure; which perhaps no one would have thought of packingand she was rightthe old red shawl had been left behind; Fraulein。 Rottenmeier not considering it worth putting in with the other things。 Heidi wrapped it round something else which she laid on the top of the basket; so that the red package was quite conspicuous。 Then she put on her pretty hat and left the room。 The children could not spend much time over their farewells; for Herr Sesemann was waiting to put Heidi in the carriage。 Fraulein Rottenmeier was waiting at the top of the stairs to say good…bye to her。 When she caught sight of the strange little red bundle; she took it out of the basket and threw it on the ground。 〃No; no; Adelaide;〃 she exclaimed; 〃you cannot leave the house with that thing。 What can you possibly want with it!〃 And then she said good…bye to the child。 Heidi did not dare take up her little bundle; but she gave the master of the house an imploring look; as if her greatest treasure had been taken from her。
〃No; no;〃 said Herr Sesemann in a very decided voice; 〃the child shall take home with her whatever she likes; kittens and tortoises; if it pleases her; we need not put ourselves out about that; Fraulein Rottenmeier。〃
Heidi quickly picked up her bundle; with a look of joy and gratitude。 As she stood by the carriage door; Herr Sesemann gave her his hand and said he hoped she would remember him and Clara。 He wished her a happy journey; and Heidi thanked him for all his kindness; and added; 〃And please say good…bye to the doctor for me and give him many; many thanks。〃 For she had not forgotten that he had said to her the night before; 'It will be all right to…morrow;' and she rightly divined that he had helped to make it so for her。 Heidi was now lifted into the carriage; and then the basket and the provisions were put in; and finally Sebastian took his place。 Then Herr Sesemann called out once more; 〃A pleasant journey to you;〃 and the carriage rolled away。
Heidi was soon sitting in the railway carriage; holding her basket tightly on her lap; she would not let it out of her hands for a moment; for it contained the delicious rolls for grandmother; so she must keep it carefully; and even peep inside it from time to time to enjoy the sight of them。 For many hours she sat as still as a mouse; only now was she beginning to realize that she was going home to the grandfather; the mountain; the grandmother; and Peter; and pictures of all she was going to see again rose one by one before her eyes; she thought of how everything would look at home; but this brought other thoughts to her mind; and all of a sudden she said anxiously; 〃Sebastian; are you sure that grandmother on the mountain is not dead?〃
〃No; no;〃 said Sebastian; wishing to soothe her; 〃we will hope not; she is sure to be alive still。〃
Then Heidi fell back on her own thoughts again。 Now and then she looked inside the basket; for the thing she looked forward to most was laying all the rolls out on grandmother's table。 After a long silence she spoke again; 〃If only we could know for certain that grandmother is alive!〃
〃Yes; yes;〃 said Sebastian; half asleep; 〃she is sure to be alive; there is no reason why she should be dead。〃
After a while sleep fell on Heidi too; and after her disturbed night and early rising she slept so soundly that she did not wake till Sebastian shook her by the arm and called to her; 〃Wake up; wake up! we shall have to get out directly; we are just in Basle!〃
There was a further railway journey of many hours the next day。 Heidi again sat with her basket on her knee; for she would not have given it up to Sebastian on any consideration; to…day she never even opened her mouth; for her excitement; which increased with every mile of the journey; kept her speechless。 All of a sudden; before Heidi expected it; a voice called out; 〃Mayenfeld。〃 She and Sebastian both jumped up; the latter also taken by surprise。 In another minute they were both standing on the platform with Heidi's trunk; and the train was steaming away down the valley。 Sebastian looked after it regretfully; for he preferred the easier mode of travelling to a wearisome climb on foot; especially as there was danger no doubt as well as fatigue in a country like this; where; according to Sebastian's idea; everything and everybody were half savage。 He therefore looked cautiously to either side to see who was a likely person to ask the safest way to Dorfli。
Just outside the station he saw a shabby…looking little cart and horse which a broad…shouldered man was loading with heavy sacks that had been brought by the train; so he went up to him and asked which was the safest way to get to Dorfli。
〃All the roads about here are safe;〃 was the curt reply。
So Sebastian altered his question and asked which was the best way to avoid falling over the precipice; and also how a box could be conveyed to Dorfli。 The man looked at the box; weighing it with his eye; and then volunteered if it was not too heavy to take it on his own cart; as he was driving to Dorfli。 After some little interchange of words it was finally agreed that the man should take both the child and the box to Dorfli; and there find some one who could be sent on with Heidi up the mountain。
〃I can go by myself; I know the way well from Dorfli;〃 put in Heidi; who had been listening attentively to the conversation。 Sebastian was greatly relieved at not having to do any mountain climbing。 He drew Heidi aside and gave her a thick rolled parcel; and a letter for her grandfather; the parcel; he told her; was a present from Herr Sesemann; and she must put it at the bottom of her basket under the rolls and be very careful not to lose it; as Herr Sesemann would be very vexed if she did; and never be the same to her again; so little miss was to think well of what he said。
〃I shall be sure not to lose it;〃 said Heidi confidently; and she at once put the roll and the letter at the bottom of her basket。 The trunk meanwhile had been hoisted into the cart; and now Sebastian lifted Heidi and her basket on to the high seat and shook hands with her; he then made signs to her to keep her eye on the basket; for the driver was standing near and Sebastian thought it better to be careful; especially as he knew that he ought himself to have seen the child safely to her journey's end。 The driver now swung himself up beside Heidi; and the cart rolled away in the direction of the mountains; while Sebastian; glad of having no tiring and dangerous journey on foot before him; sat down in the station and awaited the return train。
The driver of the car was the miller at Dorfli and was taking home his sacks of flour。 He had never seen Heidi; but like everybody in Dorfli knew all about her。 He had known her parents; and felt sure at once that this was the child of whom he had heard so much。 He began to wonder why she had come back; and as they drove along he entered into conversation with her。 〃You are the child who lived with your grandfather; Alm…Uncle; are you not?〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Didn't they treat you well down there that you have come back so soon?〃
〃Yes; it was not that; everything in Frankfurt is as nice as it could be。〃
〃Then why are you running home again?〃
〃Only because Herr Sesemann gave me leave; or else I should not have come。〃
〃If they were willing to let you stay; why did you not remain where you were better off than at home?〃
〃Because I would a thousand times rather be with grandfather on the mountain than anywhere else in the world。〃
〃You will think differently perhaps when you get back there;〃 grumbled the miller; and then to himself; 〃It's strange of her; for she must know what it's like。〃
He began whistling and said no more; while Heidi looked around her and began to tremble with excitement; for she knew every tree along the way; and there overhead were the high jagged peaks of the mountain looking down on her like old friends。 And Heidi nodded back to them; and grew every moment more wild with her joy and longing; feeling as if she must jump down from the cart and run with all her might till she reached the top。 But she sat quite still and did not move; although inwardly in such agitation。 The clock was striking five as they drove into Dorfli。 A crowd of women and children immediately surrounded the cart; for the box and the child arriving with the miller had excited the curiosity of everybody in the neighborhood; inquisitive to know whence they came and whither they were going and to whom they belonged。 As the miller lifted Heidi down; she said hastily; 〃Thank you; grandfather will send for the trunk;〃 and was just going to run off; when first one and then another of the bystanders caught hold of her; each one having a different question to put to her。 But Heidi pushed her way through them with such an expression of distress on her face that they were forced to let her go。 〃You see;〃 they said to one another; 〃how frightened she is; and no wonder;〃 and then they went on to talk of Alm…Uncle; how much worse he had grown that last year; never speaking a word and looking as if he would like to kill everybody he met; and if the child had anywhere else to go to she