heidi-第44节

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iasm　and　looked　back　at　her　with　equal　longing　in　her　soft　blue　eyes。

〃Grandmamma；　do　you　think　I　could　get　up　there？　Is　it　possible　for　me　to　go？〃　she　asked　eagerly。　〃If　only　I　could　walk；　climb　about　everywhere　with　you；　Heidi！〃

〃I　am　sure　I　could　push　you　up；　the　chair　goes　so　easily；〃　said　Heidi；　and　in　proof　of　her　words；　she　sent　the　chair　at　such　a　pace　round　the　corner　that　it　nearly　went　flying　down　the　mountain…side。　Grandmamma　being　at　hand；　however；　stopped　it　in　time。

The　grandfather；　meantime；　had　not　been　idle。　He　had　by　this　time　put　the　table　and　extra　chairs　in　front　of　the　seat；　so　that　they　might　all　sit　out　here　and　eat　the　dinner　that　was　preparing　inside。　The　milk　and　the　cheese　were　soon　ready；　and　then　the　company　sat　down　in　high　spirits　to　their　mid…day　meal。

Grandmamma　was　enchanted；　as　the　doctor　had　been；　with　their　dining…room；　whence　one　could　see　far　along　the　valley；　and　far　over　the　mountains　to　the　farthest　stretch　of　blue　sky。　A　light　wind　blew　refreshingly　over　them　as　they　sat　at　table；　and　the　rustling　of　the　fir　trees　made　a　festive　accompaniment　to　the　repast。

〃I　never　enjoyed　anything　as　much　as　this。　It　is　really　superb！〃　cried　grandmamma　two　or　three　times　over；　and　then　suddenly　in　a　tone　of　surprise；

〃Do　I　really　see　you　taking　a　second　piece　of　toasted　cheese；　Clara！〃

There；　sure　enough；　was　a　second　golden…colored　slice　of　cheese　on　Clara's　plate。

〃Oh；　it　does　taste　so　nice；　grandmammabetter　than　all　the　dishes　we　have　at　Ragatz；〃　replied　Clara；　as　she　continued　eating　with　appetite。

〃That's　right；　eat　what　you　can！〃　exclaimed　Uncle。　〃It's　the　mountain　air　which　makes　up　for　the　deficiencies　of　the　kitchen。〃

And　so　the　meal　went　on。　Grandmamma　and　Alm…Uncle　got　on　very　well　together；　and　their　conversation　became　more　and　more　lively。　They　were　so　thoroughly　agreed　in　their　opinions　of　men　and　things　and　the　world　in　general　that　they　might　have　been　taken　for　old　cronies。　The　time　passed　merrily；　and　then　grandmamma　looked　towards　the　west　and　said；

〃We　must　soon　get　ready　to　go；　Clara；　the　sun　is　a　good　way　down；　the　men　will　be　here　directly　with　the　horse　and　sedan。〃

Clara's　face　fell　and　she　said　beseechingly；　〃Oh；　just　another　hour；　grandmamma；　or　two　hours。　We　haven't　seen　inside　the　hut　yet；　or　Heidi's　bed；　or　any　of　the　other　things。　If　only　the　day　was　ten　hours　long！〃

〃Well；　that　is　not　possible；〃　said　grandmamma；　but　she　herself　was　anxious　to　see　inside　the　hut；　so　they　all　rose　from　the　table　and　Uncle　wheeled　Clara's　chair　to　the　door。　But　there　they　came　to　a　standstill；　for　the　chair　was　much　too　broad　to　pass　through　the　door。　Uncle；　however；　soon　settled　the　difficulty　by　lifting　Clara　in　his　strong　arms　and　carrying　her　inside。

Grandmamma　went　all　round　and　examined　the　household　arrangements；　and　was　very　much　amused　and　pleased　at　their　orderliness　and　the　cozy　appearance　of　everything。　〃And　this　is　your　bedroom　up　here；　Heidi；　is　it　not？〃　she　asked；　as　without　trepidation　she　mounted　the　ladder　to　the　hay　loft。　〃Oh；　it　does　smell　sweet；　what　a　healthy　place　to　sleep　in。〃　She　went　up　to　the　round　window　and　looked　out；　and　grandfather　followed　up　with　Clara　in　his　arms；　Heidi　springing　up　after　them。　Then　they　all　stood　and　examined　Heidi's　wonderful　hay…bed；　and　grandmamma　looked　thoughtfully　at　it　and　drew　in　from　time　to　time　fragrant　draughts　of　the　hay…perfumed　air；　while　Clara　was　charmed　beyond　words　with　Heidi's　sleeping　apartment。

〃It　is　delightful　for　you　up　here；　Heidi！　You　can　look　from　your　bed　straight　into　the　sky；　and　then　such　a　delicious　smell　all　round　you！　and　outside　the　fir　trees　waving　and　rustling！　I　have　never　seen　such　a　pleasant；　cheerful　bedroom　before。

Uncle　looked　across　at　the　grandmamma。　〃I　have　been　thinking；〃　he　said　to　her；　〃that　if　you　were　willing　to　agree　to　it；　your　little　granddaughter　might　remain　up　here；　and　I　am　sure　she　would　grow　stronger。　You　have　brought　up　all　kinds　of　shawls　and　covers　with　you；　and　we　could　make　up　a　soft　bed　out　of　them；　and　as　to　the　general　looking　after　the　child；　you　need　have　no　fear；　for　I　will　see　to　that。〃　Clara　and　Heidi　were　as　overjoyed　at　these　words　as　if　they　were　two　birds　let　out　of　their　cages；　and　grandmamma's　face　beamed　with　satisfaction。

〃You　are　indeed　kind；　my　dear　Uncle；〃　she　exclaimed；　〃you　give　words　to　the　thought　that　was　in　my　own　mind。　I　was　only　asking　myself　whether　a　stay　up　here　might　not　be　the　very　thing　she　wanted。　But　then　the　trouble；　the　inconvenience　to　yourself！　And　you　speak　of　nursing　and　looking　after　her　as　if　it　was　a　mere　nothing！　I　thank　you　sincerely；　I　thank　you　from　my　whole　heart；　Uncle。〃　And　she　took　his　hand　and　gave　it　a　long　and　grateful　shake；　which　he　returned　with　a　pleased　expression　of　countenance。

Uncle　immediately　set　to　work　to　get　things　ready。　He　carried　Clara　back　to　her　chair　outside；　Heidi　following；　not　knowing　how　to　jump　high　enough　into　the　air　to　express　her　contentment。　Then　he　gathered　up　a　whole　pile　of　shawls　and　furs　and　said；　smiling；　〃It　is　a　good　thing　that　grandmamma　came　up　well　provided　for　a　winter's　campaign；　we　shall　be　able　to　make　good　use　of　these。〃

〃Foresight　is　a　virtue；〃　responded　the　lady；　amused；　〃and　prevents　many　misfortunes。　If　we　have　made　the　journey　over　your　mountains　without　meeting　with　storms；　winds　and　cloud…bursts；　we　can　only　be　thankful；　which　we　are；　and　my　provision　against　these　disasters　now　comes　in　usefully；　as　you　say。〃

The　two　had　meanwhile　ascended　to　the　hay…loft　and　begun　to　prepare　a　bed；　there　were　so　many　articles　piled　one　over　the　other　that　when　finished　it　looked　like　a　regular　little　fortress。　Grandmamma　passed　her　hand　carefully　over　it　to　make　sure　there　were　no　bits　of　hay　sticking　out。　〃If　there's　a　bit　that　can　come　through　it　will；〃　she　said。　The　soft　mattress；　however；　was　so　smooth　and　thick　that　nothing　could　penetrate　it。　Then　they　went　down　again；　well　satisfied；　and　found　the　children　laughing　and　talking　together　and　arranging　all　they　were　going　to　do　from　morning　till　evening　as　long　as　Clara　stayed。　The　next　question　was　how　long　she　was　to　remain；　and　first　grandmamma　was　asked；　but　she　referred　them　to　the　grandfather；　who　gave　it　as　his　opinion　that　she　ought　to　make　the　trial　of　the　mountain　air　for　at　least　a　month。　The　children　clapped　their　hands　for　joy；　for　they　had　not　expected　to　be　together　for　so　long　a　time。

The　bearers　and　the　horse　and　guide　were　now　seen　approaching；　the　former　were　sent　back　at　once；　and　grandmamma　prepared　to　mount　for　her　return　journey。

〃It's　not　saying　good…bye；　grandmamma；〃　Clara　called　out；　〃for　you　will　come　up　now　and　then　and　see　how　we　are　getting　on；　and　we　shall　so　look　forward　to　your　visits；　shan't　we；　Heidi？〃

Heidi；　who　felt　that　life　this　day　had　been　crowded　with　pleasures；　could　only　respond　to　Clara　with　another　jump　of　joy。

Grandmamma　being　now　seated　on　her　sturdy　animal；　Uncle　took　the　bridle　to　lead　her　down　the　steep　mountain　path；　she　begged　him　not　to　come　far　with　her；　but　he　insisted　on　seeing　her　safely　as　far　as　Dorfli；　for　the　way　was　precipitous　and　not　without　danger　for　the　rider；　he　said。

Grandmamma　did　not　care　to　stay　alone　in　Dorfli；　and　therefore　decided　to　return　to　Ragatz；　and　thence　to　make　excursions　up　the　mountain　from　time　to　time。

Peter　came　down　with　his　goats　before　Uncle　had　returned。　As　soon　as　the　animals　caught　sight　of　Heidi　they　all　came　flocking　towards　her；　and　she；　as　well　as　Clara　on　her　couch；　were　soon　surrounded　by　the　goats；　pushing　and　poking　their　heads　one　over　the　other；　while　Heidi　introduced　each　in　turn　by　its　name　to　her　friend　Clara。

It　was　not　long　before　the　latter　had　made　the　long…wished…for　acquaintance　of　little　Snowflake；　the　lively　Greenfinch；　and　the　well…behaved　goats　belonging　to　grandfather；　as　well　as　of　the　many　others；　including　the　Grand　Turk。　Peter　meanwhile　stood　apart　looking　on；　and　casting　somewhat　unfriendly　glances　towards　Clara。

When　the　two　children　called　out；　〃Good…evening；　Peter；〃　he　made　no　answer；　but　swung　up　his　stick　angrily；　as　if　wanting　to　cut　the　air　in　two；　and　then　ran　off　with　his　goats　after　him。

The　climax　to　all　the　beautiful　things　that　Clara　had　already　seen　upon　the　mountain　came　at　the　close　of　the　day。

As　she　lay　on　the　large　soft　bed　in　the　hay　loft；　with　Heidi　near　her；　she　looked　out　through　the　round　open　window　right　into　the　middle　of　the　shining　clusters　of　stars；　and　she　exclaimed　in　delight；

〃Heidi；　it's　just　as　if　we　were　in　a　high　carriage　and　were　going　to　drive　straight　into　heaven。〃

〃Yes；　and　do　you　know　why　the　stars　are　so　happy　and　look　down　and　nod　to　us　like　that？〃　asked　Heidi。

〃No；　why　is　it？〃　Clara　asked　in　return。

〃Because　they　live　up　in　heaven；　and　know　how　well　God　arranges　everything　for　us；　so　that　we　need　have　no　more　fear　or　trouble　and　may　be　quite　sure　that　all　things　will　come　right　in　the　end。　That's　why　they　are　so　happy；　and　they　nod　to　us　because　they　want　us　to　be　happy　too。　But　then　we　must　never　forget　to　pray；　and　to　ask　God　to　remember　us　when　He　is　arranging　things；　so　that　we　too　may　feel　safe　and　have　no　anxiety　about　what　is　going　to　happen。〃

The　two　children