heidi-第29节
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oking as if he would like to kill everybody he met; and if the child had anywhere else to go to she certainly would not run back to the old dragon's den。 But here the miller interrupted them; saying he knew more about it than they did; and began telling them how a kind gentleman had brought her to Mayenfeld and seen her off; and had given him his fare without any bargaining; and extra money for himself; what was more; the child had assured him that she had had everything she wanted where she had been; and that it was her own wish to return to her grandfather。 This information caused great surprise and was soon repeated all over Dorfli; and that evening there was not a house in the place in which the astounding news was not discussed; of how Heidi had of her own accord given up a luxurious home to return to her grandfather。
Heidi climbed up the steep path from Dorfli as quickly as she could; she was obliged; however; to pause now and again to take breath; for the basket she carried was rather heavy; and the way got steeper as she drew nearer the top。 One thought alone filled Heidi's mind; 〃Would she find the grandmother sitting in her usual corner by the spinning…wheel; was she still alive?〃 At last Heidi caught sight of the grandmother's house in the hollow of the mountain and her heart began to beat; she ran faster and faster and her heart beat louder and louderand now she had reached the house; but she trembled so she could hardly open the doorand then she was standing inside; unable in her breathlessness to utter a sound。
〃Ah; my God!〃 cried a voice from the corner; 〃that was how Heidi used to run in; if only I could have her with me once again! Who is there?〃
〃It's I; I; grandmother;〃 cried Heidi as she ran and flung herself on her knees beside the old woman; and seizing her hands; clung to her; unable to speak for joy。 And the grandmother herself could not say a word for some time; so unexpected was this happiness; but at last she put out her hand and stroked Heidi's curly hair; and said; 〃Yes; yes; that is her hair; and her voice; thank God that He has granted my prayer!〃 And tears of joy fell from the blind eyes on to Heidi's hand。 〃Is it really you; Heidi; have you really come back to me?〃
〃Yes; grandmother; I am really here;〃 answered Heidi in a reassuring voice。 〃Do not cry; for I have really come back and I am never going away again; and I shall come every day to see you; and you won't have any more hard bread to eat for some days; for look; look!〃
And Heidi took the rolls from the basket and piled the whole twelve up on grandmother's lap。
〃Ah; child! child! what a blessing you bring with you!〃 the old woman exclaimed; as she felt and seemed never to come to the end of the rolls。 〃But you yourself are the greatest blessing; Heidi;〃 and again she touched the child's hair and passed her hand over her hot cheeks; and said; 〃Say something; child; that I may hear your voice。〃
Then Heidi told her how unhappy she had been; thinking that the grandmother might die while she was away and would never have her white rolls; and that then she would never; never see her again。
Peter's mother now came in and stood for a moment overcome with astonishment。 〃Why; it's Heidi;〃 she exclaimed; 〃and yet can it be?〃
Heidi stood up; and Brigitta now could not say enough in her admiration of the child's dress and appearance; she walked round her; exclaiming all the while; 〃Grandmother; if you could only see her; and see what a pretty frock she has on; you would hardly know her again。 And the hat with the feather in it is yours too; I suppose? Put it on that I may see how you look in it?〃
〃No; I would rather not;〃 replied Heidi firmly。 〃You can have it if you like; I do not want it; I have my own still。〃 And Heidi so saying undid her red bundle and took out her own old hat; which had become a little more battered still during the journey。 But this was no trouble to Heidi; she had not forgotten how her grandfather had called out to Dete that he never wished to see her and her hat and feathers again; and this was the reason she had so anxiously preserved her old hat; for she had never ceased to think about going home to her grandfather。 But Brigitta told her not to be so foolish as to give it away; she would not think of taking such a beautiful hat; if Heidi did not want to wear it she might sell it to the schoolmaster's daughter in Dorfli and get a good deal of money for it。 But Heidi stuck to her intention and hid the hat quietly in a corner behind the grandmother's chair。 Then she took off her pretty dress and put her red shawl on over her under…petticoat; which left her arms bare; and now she clasped the old woman's hand。 〃I must go home to grandfather;〃 she said; 〃but to…morrow I shall come again。 Good…night; grandmother。〃
〃Yes; come again; be sure you come again tomorrow;〃 begged the grandmother; as she pressed Heidi's hands in hers; unwilling to let her go。
〃Why have you taken off that pretty dress?〃 asked Brigitta。
〃Because I would rather go home to grandfather as I am or else perhaps he would not know me; you hardly did at first。〃
Brigitta went with her to the door; and there said in rather a mysterious voice; 〃You might have kept on your dress; he would have known you all right; but you must be careful; for Peter tells me that Alm…Uncle is always now in a bad temper and never speaks。〃
Heidi bid her good…night and continued her way up the mountain; her basket on her arm。 All around her the steep green slopes shone bright in the evening sun; and soon the great gleaming snow…field up above came in sight。 Heidi was obliged to keep on pausing to look behind her; for the higher peaks were behind her as she climbed。 Suddenly a warm red glow fell on the grass at her feet; she looked back againshe had not remembered how splendid it was; nor seen anything to compare to it in her dreamsfor there the two high mountain peeks rose into the air like two great flames; the whole snow…field had turned crimson; and rosy…colored clouds floated in the sky above。 The grass upon the mountain sides had turned to gold; the rocks were all aglow; and the whole valley was bathed in golden mist。 And as Heidi stood gazing around her at all this splendor the tears ran down her cheeks for very delight and happiness; and impulsively she put her hands together; and lifting her eyes to heaven; thanked God aloud for having brought her home; thanked Him that everything was as beautiful as ever; more beautiful even than she had thought; and that it was all hers again once more。〃 And she was so overflowing with joy and thankfulness that she could not find words to thank Him enough。 Not until the glory began to fade could she tear herself away。 Then she ran on so quickly that in a very little while she caught sight of the tops of the fir trees above the hut roof; then the roof itself; and at last the whole hut; and there was grandfather sitting as in old days smoking his pipe; and she could see the fir trees waving in the wind。 Quicker and quicker went her little feet; and before Alm…Uncle had time to see who was coming; Heidi had rushed up to him; thrown down her basket and flung her arms round his neck; unable in the excitement of seeing him again to say more than 〃Grandfather! grandfather! grandfather!〃 over and over again。
And the old man himself said nothing。 For the first time for many years his eyes were wet; and he had to pass his hand across them。 Then he unloosed Heidi's arms; put her on his knee; and after looking at her for a moment; 〃So you have come back to me; Heidi;〃 he said; 〃how is that? You don't look much of a grand lady。 Did they send you away?〃
〃Oh; no; grandfather;〃 said Heidi eagerly; 〃you must not think that; they were all so kindClara; and grandmamma; and Herr Sesemann。 But you see; grandfather; I did not know how to bear myself till I got home again to you。 I used to think I should die; for I felt as if I could not breathe; but I never said anything because it would have been ungrateful。 And then suddenly one morning quite early Herr Sesemann said to mebut I think it was partly the doctor's doingbut perhaps it's all in the letter〃 and Heidi jumped down and fetched the roll and the letter and handed them both to her grandfather。
〃That belongs to you;〃 said the latter; laying the roll down on the bench beside him。 Then he opened the letter; read it through and without a word put it in his pocket。
〃Do you think you can still drink milk with me; Heidi?〃 he asked; taking the child by the hand to go into the hut。 〃But bring your money with you; you can buy a bed and bedclothes and dresses for a couple of years with it。〃
〃I am sure I do not want it;〃 replied Heidi。 〃I have got a bed already; and Clara has put such a lot of clothes in my box that I shall never want any more。〃
〃Take it and put it in the cupboard; you will want it some day I have no doubt。〃
Heidi obeyed and skipped happily after her grandfather into the house; she ran into all the corners; delighted to see everything again; and then went up the ladderbut there she came to a pause and called down in a tone of surprise and distress; 〃Oh; grandfather; my bed's gone。〃
〃We can soon make it up again;〃 he answered her from below。 〃I did not