heidi-第36节

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tain。　Arrived　at　Peter's　home　Heidi　bid　the　others　good…bye；　she　was　to　wait　at　grandmother's　till　her　grandfather；　who　was　going　on　to　Dorfli　with　his　guest；　returned　to　fetch　her。　As　the　doctor　shook　hands　with　her　she　asked；　〃Would　you　like　to　come　out　with　the　goats　to…morrow　morning？〃　for　she　could　think　of　no　greater　treat　to　offer　him。

〃Agreed！〃　answered　the　doctor；　〃we　will　go　together；〃

Heidi　now　ran　in　to　the　grandmother；　she　first；　with　some　effort；　managed　to　carry　in　the　box　of　cakes；　then　she　ran　out　again　and　brought　in　the　sausagefor　her　grandfather　had　put　the　presents　down　by　the　doorand　then　a　third　time　for　the　shawl。　She　had　placed　them　as　close　as　she　could　to　the　grandmother；　so　that　the　latter　might　be　able　to　feel　them　and　understand　what　was　there。　The　shawl　she　laid　over　the　old　woman's　knees。

〃They　are　all　from　Frankfurt；　from　Clara　and　grandmamma；〃　she　explained　to　the　astonished　grandmother　and　Brigitta；　the　latter　having　watched　her　dragging　in　all　the　heavy　things；　unable　to　imagine　what　was　happening。

〃And　you　are　very　pleased　with　the　cakes；　aren't　you；　grandmother？　taste　how　soft　they　are！〃　said　Heidi　over　and　over　again；　to　which　the　grandmother　continued　to　answer；　〃Yes；　yes；　Heidi；　I　should　think　so！　what　kind　people　they　must　be！〃　And　then　she　would　pass　her　hand　over　the　warm　thick　shawl　and　add；　〃This　will　be　beautiful　for　the　cold　winter！　I　never　thought　I　should　ever　have　such　a　splendid　thing　as　this　to　put　on。〃

Heidi　could　not　help　feeling　some　surprise　at　the　grandmother　seeming　to　take　more　pleasure　in　the　shawl　than　the　cakes。　Meanwhile　Brigitta　stood　gazing　at　the　sausage　with　almost　an　expression　of　awe。　She　had　hardly　in　her　life　seen　such　a　monster　sausage；　much　less　owned　one；　and　she　could　scarcely　believe　her　eyes。　She　shook　her　head　and　said　doubtfully；　〃I　must　ask　Uncle　what　it　is　meant　for；〃

But　Heidi　answered　without　hesitation；　〃It　is　meant　for　eating；　not　for　anything　else。〃

Peter　came　tumbling　in　at　this　minute。　〃Uncle　is　just　behind　me；　he　is　coming〃　he　began；　and　then　stopped　short；　for　his　eye　had　caught　sight　of　the　sausage；　and　he　was　too　much　taken　aback　to　say　more。　But　Heidi　understood　that　her　grandfather　was　near　and　so　said　good…bye　to　grandmother。　The　old　man　now　never　passed　the　door　without　going　in　to　wish　the　old　woman　good…day；　and　she　liked　to　hear　his　footstep　approaching；　for　he　always　had　a　cheery　word　for　her。　But　to…day　it　was　growing　late　for　Heidi；　who　was　always　up　with　the　lark；　and　the　grandfather　would　never　let　her　go　to　bed　after　hours；　so　this　evening　he　only　called　good…night　through　the　open　door　and　started　home　at　once　with　the　child；　and　the　two　climbed　under　the　starlit　sky　back　to　their　peaceful　dwelling。



CHAPTER　XVII。　A　COMPENSATION

The　next　morning　the　doctor　climbed　up　from　Dorfli　with　Peter　and　the　goats。　The　kindly　gentleman　tried　now　and　then　to　enter　into　conversation　with　the　boy；　but　his　attempts　failed；　for　he　could　hardly　get　a　word　out　of　Peter　in　answer　to　his　questions。　Peter　was　not　easily　persuaded　to　talk。　So　the　party　silently　made　their　way　up　to　the　hut；　where　they　found　Heidi　awaiting　them　with　her　two　goats；　all　three　as　fresh　and　lively　as　the　morning　sun　among　the　mountains。

〃Are　you　coming　to…day？〃　said　Peter；　repeating　the　words　with　which　he　daily　greeted　her；　either　in　question　or　in　summons。

〃Of　course　I　am；　if　the　doctor　is　coming　too；〃　replied　Heidi。

Peter　cast　a　sidelong　glance　at　the　doctor。　The　grandfather　now　came　out　with　the　dinner　bag；　and　after　bidding　good…day　to　the　doctor　he　went　up　to　Peter　and　slung　it　over　his　neck。　It　was　heavier　than　usual；　for　Alm…Uncle　had　added　some　meat　to…day；　as　he　thought　the　doctor　might　like　to　have　his　lunch　out　and　eat　it　when　the　children　did。　Peter　gave　a　grin；　for　he　felt　sure　there　was　something　more　than　ordinary　in　it。

And　so　the　ascent　began。　The　goats　as　usual　came　thronging　around　Heidi；　each　trying　to　be　nearest　her；　until　at　last　she　stood　still　and　said；　〃Now　you　must　go　on　in　front　and　behave　properly；　and　not　keep　on　turning　back　and　pushing　and　poking　me；　for　I　want　to　talk　to　the　doctor；〃　and　she　gave　Snowflake　a　little　pat　on　the　back　and　told　her　to　be　good　and　obedient。　By　degrees　she　managed　to　make　her　way　out　from　among　them　and　joined　the　doctor；　who　took　her　by　the　hand。　He　had　no　difficulty　now　in　conversing　with　his　companion；　for　Heidi　had　a　great　deal　to　say　about　the　goats　and　their　peculiarities；　and　about　the　flowers　and　the　rocks　and　the　birds；　and　so　they　clambered　on　and　reached　their　resting…place　before　they　were　aware。　Peter　had　sent　a　good　many　unfriendly　glances　towards　the　doctor　on　the　way　up；　which　might　have　quite　alarmed　the　latter　if　he　had　happened　to　notice　them；　which；　fortunately；　he　did　not。

Heidi　now　led　her　friend　to　her　favorite　spot　where　she　was　accustomed　to　sit　and　enjoy　the　beauty　around　her；　the　doctor　followed　her　example　and　took　his　seat　beside　her　on　the　warm　grass。　Over　the　heights　and　over　the　far　green　valley　hung　the　golden　glory　of　the　autumn　day。　The　great　snow…field　sparkled　in　the　bright　sunlight；　and　the　two　grey　rocky　peaks　rose　in　their　ancient　majesty　against　the　dark　blue　sky。　A　soft；　light　morning　breeze　blew　deliciously　across　the　mountain；　gently　stirring　the　bluebells　that　still　remained　of　the　summer's　wealth　of　flowers；　their　slender　heads　nodding　cheerfully　in　the　sunshine。　Overhead　the　great　bird　was　flying　round　and　round　in　wide　circles；　but　to…day　he　made　no　sound；　poised　on　his　large　wings　he　floated　contentedly　in　the　blue　ether。　Heidi　looked　about　her　first　at　one　thing　and　then　at　another。　The　waving　flowers；　the　blue　sky；　the　bright　sunshine；　the　happy　birdeverything　was　so　beautiful！　so　beautiful！　Her　eyes　were　alight　with　joy。　And　now　she　turned　to　her　friend　to　see　if　he　too　were　enjoying　the　beauty。　The　doctor　had　been　sitting　thoughtfully　gazing　around　him。　As　he　met　her　glad　bright　eyes；　〃Yes；　Heidi；〃　he　responded；　〃I　see　how　lovely　it　all　is；　but　tell　meif　one　brings　a　sad　heart　up　here；　how　may　it　be　healed　so　that　it　can　rejoice　in　all　this　beauty？〃

〃Oh；　but；〃　exclaimed　Heidi；　〃no　one　is　sad　up　here；　only　in　Frankfurt。〃

The　doctor　smiled　and　then　growing　serious　again　he　continued；　〃But　supposing　one　is　not　able　to　leave　all　the　sadness　behind　at　Frankfurt；　can　you　tell　me　anything　that　will　help　then？〃

〃When　you　do　not　know　what　more　to　do　you　must　go　and　tell　everything　to　God；〃　answered　Heidi　with　decision。

〃Ah；　that　is　a　good　thought　of　yours；　Heidi；〃　said　the　doctor。　〃But　if　it　is　God　Himself　who　has　sent　the　trouble；　what　can　we　say　to　Him　then？〃

Heidi　sat　pondering　for　a　while；　she　was　sure　in　her　heart　that　God　could　help　out　of　every　trouble。　She　thought　over　her　own　experiences　and　then　found　her　answer。

〃Then　you　must　wait；〃　she　said；　〃and　keep　on　saying　to　yourself：　God　certainly　knows　of　some　happiness　for　us　which　He　is　going　to　bring　out　of　the　trouble；　only　we　must　have　patience　and　not　run　away。　And　then　all　at　once　something　happens　and　we　see　clearly　ourselves　that　God　has　had　some　good　thought　in　His　mind　all　along；　but　because　we　cannot　see　things　beforehand；　and　only　know　how　dreadfully　miserable　we　are；　we　think　it　is　always　going　to　be　so。〃

〃That　is　a　beautiful　faith；　child；　and　be　sure　you　hold　it　fast；〃　replied　the　doctor。　Then　he　sat　on　a　while　in　silence；　looking　at　the　great　overshadowing　mountains　and　the　green；　sunlit　valley　below　before　he　spoke　again；

〃Can　you　understand；　Heidi；　that　a　man　may　sit　here　with　such　a　shadow　over　his　eyes　that　he　cannot　feel　and　enjoy　the　beauty　around　him；　while　the　heart　grows　doubly　sad　knowing　how　beautiful　it　could　be？　Can　you　understand　that？〃

A　pain　shot　through　the　child's　young　happy　heart。　The　shadow　over　the　eyes　brought　to　her　remembrance　the　grandmother；　who　would　never　again　be　able　to　see　the　sunlight　and　the　beauty　up　here。　This　was　Heidi's　great　sorrow；　which　re…awoke　each　time　she　thought　about　the　darkness。　She　did　not　speak　for　a　few　minutes；　for　her　happiness　was　interrupted　by　this　sudden　pang。　Then　in　a　grave　voice　she　said；

〃Yes；　I　can　understand　it。　And　I　know　this；　that　then　one　must　say　one　of　grandmother's　hymns；　which　bring　the　light　back　a　little；　and　often　make　it　so　bright　for　her　that　she　is　quite　happy　again。　Grandmother　herself　told　me　this。〃

〃Which　hymns　are　they；　Heidi？〃　asked　the　doctor。

〃I　only　know　the　one　about　the　sun　and　the　beautiful　garden；　and　some　of　the　verses　of　the　long　one；　which　are　favorites　with　her；　and　she　always　likes　me　to　read　them　to　her　two　or　three　times　over；〃　replied　Heidi。

〃Well；　say　the　verses　to　me　then；　I　should　like　to　hear　them　too；〃　and　the　doctor　sat　up　in　order　to　listen　better。

Heidi　put　her　hands　together　and　sat　collecting　her　thoughts　for　a　second　or　two：　〃Shall　I　begin　at　the　verse　that　grandmother　says　gives　her　a　feeling　of　hope　and　confidence？〃

The　doctor　nodded　his　assent；　and　Heidi　began；

　Let　not　your　heart　be　troubled　　Nor　fear　your　soul　dismay；　　There　is　a　wise　Defender　　And　He　will　be　your　stay。　　Where　you　have　failed；　He　conquers；　　See；　how　the　foeman　flies！　　And　all　your　tribulation　　Is　turned　to　glad　surprise。

　If　for　a　w