heidi-第34节
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〃Take that box and bring it back filled with the soft cakes which we have with coffee；〃 said Clara； pointing to a box which had been brought long before in preparation for this。 Tinette took it up； and carried it out； dangling it contemptuously in her hand。
〃Hardly worth the trouble I should have thought；〃 she said pertly as she left the room。
As Sebastian opened the door for the doctor he said with a bow； 〃Will the Herr Doctor be so kind as to give the little miss my greetings？〃
〃I see；〃 said the doctor； 〃you know then already that I am off on a journey。〃
Sebastian hesitated and gave an awkward little cough。 〃I amI haveI hardly know myself O yes； I remember； I happened to pass through the dining…room and caught little miss's name； and I put two and two togetherand so I thought〃
〃I see； I see；〃 smiled the doctor； 〃one can find out a great many thinks by thinking。 Good…bye till I see you again； Sebastian； I will be sure and give your message。〃
The doctor was hastening off when he met with a sudden obstacle； the violent wind had prevented Fraulein Rottenmeier prosecuting her walk any farther； and she was just returning and had reached the door as he was coming out。 The white shawl she wore was so blown out by the wind that she looked like a ship in full sail。 The doctor drew back； but Fraulein Rottenmeier had always evinced peculiar appreciation and respect for this man； and she also drew back with exaggerated politeness to let him pass。 The two stood for a few seconds； each anxious to make way for the other； but a sudden gust of wind sent Fraulein Rottenmeier flying with all her sails almost into the doctor's arms； and she had to pause and recover herself before she could shake hands with the doctor with becoming decorum。 She was put out at having been forced to enter in so undignified a manner； but the doctor had a way of smoothing people's ruffled feathers； and she was soon listening with her usual composure while he informed her of his intended journey； begging her in his most conciliatory voice to pack up the parcels for Heidi as she alone knew how to pack。 And then he took his leave。
Clara quite expected to have a long tussle with Fraulein Rottenmeier before she would get the latter to consent to sending all the things that she had collected as presents for Heidi。 But this time she was mistaken； for Fraulein Rottenmeier was in a more than usually good temper。 She cleared the large table so that all the things for Heidi could be spread out upon it and packed under Clara's own eyes。 It was no light job； for the presents were of all shapes and sizes。 First there was the little warm cloak with a hood； which had been designed by Clara herself； in order that Heidi during the coming winter might be able to go and see grandmother when she liked； and not have to wait till her grandfather could take her wrapped up in a sack to keep her from freezing。 Then came a thick warm shawl for the grandmother； in which she could wrap herself well up and not feel the cold when the wind came sweeping in such terrible gusts round the house。 The next object was the large box full of cakes； these were also for the grandmother； that she might have something to eat with her coffee besides bread。 An immense sausage was the next article； this had been originally intended for Peter； who never had anything but bread and cheese； but Clara had altered her mind； fearing that in his delight he might eat it all up at once and make himself ill。 So she arranged to send it to Brigitta； who could take some for herself and the grandmother and give Peter his portion out by degrees。 A packet of tobacco was a present for grandfather； who was fond of his pipe as he sat resting in the evening。 Finally there was a whole lot of mysterious little bags； and parcels； and boxes； which Clara had had especial pleasure in collecting； as each was to be a joyful surprise for Heidi as she opened it。 The work came to an end at last； and an imposing…looking package lay on the floor ready for transport。 Fraulein Rottenmeier looked at it with satisfaction； lost in the consideration of the art of packing。 Clara eyed it too with pleasure； picturing Heidi's exclamations and jumps of joy and surprise when the huge parcel arrived at the hut。
And now Sebastian came in； and lifting the package on to his shoulder； carried it off to be forwarded at once to the doctor's house。
CHAPTER XVI。 A VISITOR
The early light of morning lay rosy red upon the mountains； and a fresh breeze rustled through the fir trees and set their ancient branches waving to and fro。 The sound awoke Heidi and she opened her eyes。 The roaring in the trees always stirred a strong emotion within her and seemed to drew her irresistibly to them。 So she jumped out of bed and dressed herself as quickly as she could； but it took her some time even then； for she was careful now to be always clean and tidy。
When she went down her ladder she found her grandfather had already left the hut。 He was standing outside looking at the sky and examining the landscape as he did every morning； to see what sort of weather it was going to be。
Little pink clouds were floating over the sky； that was growing brighter and bluer with every minute； while the heights and the meadow lands were turning gold under the rising sun； which was just appearing above the topmost peaks。
〃O how beautiful！ how beautiful！ Good…morning； grandfather！〃 cried Heidi； running out。
〃What； you are awake already； are you？〃 he answered； giving her a morning greeting。
Then Heidi ran round to the fir trees to enjoy the sound she loved so well； and with every fresh gust of wind which came roaring through their branches she gave a fresh jump and cry of delight。
Meanwhile the grandfather had gone to milk the goats； this done he brushed and washed them； ready for their mountain excursion； and brought them out of their shed。 As soon as Heidi caught sight of her two friends she ran and embraced them； and they bleated in return； while they vied with each other in showing their affection by poking their heads against her and trying which could get nearest her； so that she was almost crushed between them。 But Heidi was not afraid of them； and when the lively Little Bear gave rather too violent a thrust； she only said； 〃No； Little Bear； you are pushing like the Great Turk；〃 and Little Bear immediately drew back his head and left off his rough attentions； while Little Swan lifted her head and put on an expression as much as to say； 〃No one shall ever accuse me of behaving like the Great Turk。〃 For White Swan was a rather more distinguished person than Brown Bear。
And now Peter's whistle was heard and all the goats came along； leaping and springing； and Heidi soon found herself surrounded by the whole flock； pushed this way and that by their obstreperous greetings； but at last she managed to get through them to where Snowflake was standing； for the young goat had in vain striven to reach her。
Peter now gave a last tremendous whistle； in order to startle the goats and drive them off； for he wanted to get near himself to say something to Heidi。 The goats sprang aside and he came up to her。
〃Can you come out with me to…day？〃 he asked； evidently unwilling to hear her refuse。
〃I am afraid I cannot； Peter；〃 she answered。 〃I am expecting them every minute from Frankfurt； and I must be at home when they come。〃
〃You have said the same thing for days now；〃 grumbled Peter。
〃I must continue to say it till they come；〃 replied Heidi。 〃How can you think； Peter； that I would be away when they came？ As if I could do such a thing？〃
〃They would find Uncle at home；〃 he answered with a snarling voice。
But at this moment the grandfather's stentorian voice was heard。 〃Why is the army not marching forward？ Is it the field…marshal who is missing or some of the troops？〃
Whereupon Peter turned and went off； swinging his stick round so that it whistled through the air； and the goats； who understood the signal； started at full trot for their mountain pasture； Peter following in their wake。
Since Heidi had been back with her grandfather things came now and then into her mind of which she had never thought in former days。 So now； with great exertion； she put her bed in order every morning； patting and stroking it till she had got it perfectly smooth and flat。 Then she went about the room downstairs； put each chair back in its place； and if she found anything lying about she put it in the cupboard。 After that she fetched a duster； climbed on a chair； and rubbed the table till it shone again。 When the grandfather came in later he would look round well pleased and say to himself； 〃We look like Sunday every day now； Heidi did not go abroad for nothing。〃
After Peter had departed and she and her grandfather had breakfasted； Heidi began her daily work as usual； but she did not get on with it very fast。 It was so lovely out of doors to…day； and every minute something happened to interrupt her in her work。 Now it was a bright beam of sun shining cheerfully through the open window； and seeming to say； 〃Come out； Heidi； come out！〃 Heidi felt she could not stay indoors； and she ran out in answer to the call。 The sunlight lay sparkling on everything around the h
