heidi-第45节

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so　that　we　too　may　feel　safe　and　have　no　anxiety　about　what　is　going　to　happen。〃

The　two　children　now　sat　up　and　said　their　prayers；　and　then　Heidi　put　her　head　down　on　her　little　round　arm　and　fell　off　to　sleep　at　once；　but　Clara　lay　awake　some　time；　for　she　could　not　get　over　the　wonder　of　this　new　experience　of　being　in　bed　up　here　among　the　stars。　She　had　indeed　seldom　seen　a　star；　for　she　never　went　outside　the　house　at　night；　and　the　curtains　at　home　were　always　drawn　before　the　stars　came　out。　Each　time　she　closed　her　eyes　she　felt　she　must　open　them　again　to　see　if　the　two　very　large　stars　were　still　looking　in；　and　nodding　to　her　as　Heidi　said　they　did。　There　they　were；　always　in　the　same　place；　and　Clara　felt　she　could　not　look　long　enough　into　their　bright　sparkling　faces；　until　at　last　her　eyes　closed　of　their　own　accord；　and　it　was　only　in　her　dreams　that　she　still　saw　the　two　large　friendly　stars　shining　down　upon　her。



CHAPTER　XXI。　HOW　LIFE　WENT　ON　AT　GRANDFATHER'S

The　sun　had　just　risen　above　the　mountains　and　was　shedding　its　first　golden　rays　over　the　hut　and　the　valley　below。　Alm…Uncle；　as　was　his　custom；　had　been　standing　in　a　quiet　and；　devout　attitude　for　some　little　while；　watching　the　light　mists　gradually　lifting；　and　the　heights　and　valley　emerging　from　their　twilight　shadows　and　awakening　to　another　day。

The　light　morning　clouds　overhead　grew　brighter　and　brighter；　till　at　last　the　sun　shone　out　in　its　full　glory；　and　rock　and　wood　and　hill　lay　bathed　in　golden　light。

Uncle　now　stepped　back　into　the　hut　and　went　softly　up　the　ladder。　Clara　had　just　opened　her　eyes　and　was　looking　with　wonder　at　the　bright　sunlight　that　shone　through　the　round　window　and　danced　and　sparkled　about　her　bed。　She　could　not　at　first　think　what　she　was　looking　at　or　where　she　was。　Then　she　caught　sight　of　Heidi　sleeping　beside　her；　and　now　she　heard　the　grandfather's　cheery　voice　asking　her　if　she　had　slept　well　and　was　feeling　rested。　She　assured　him　she　was　not　tired；　and　that　when　she　had　once　fallen　asleep　she　had　not　opened　her　eyes　again　all　night。　The　grandfather　was　satisfied　at　this　and　immediately　began　to　attend　upon　her　with　so　much　gentleness　and　understanding　that　it　seemed　as　if　his　chief　calling　had　been　to　look　after　sick　children。

Heidi　now　awoke　and　was　surprised　to　see　Clara　dressed；　and　already　in　the　grandfather's　arms　ready　to　be　carried　down。　She　must　be　up　too；　and　she　went　through　her　toilette　with　lightning…like　speed。　She　ran　down　the　ladder　and　out　of　the　hut；　and　there　further　astonishment　awaited　her；　for　grandfather　had　been　busy　the　night　before　after　they　were　in　bed。　Seeing　that　it　was　impossible　to　get　Clara's　chair　through　the　hut…door；　he　had　taken　down　two　of　the　boards　at　the　side　of　the　shed　and　made　an　opening　large　enough　to　admit　the　chair；　these　he　left　loose　so　that　they　could　be　taken　away　and　put　up　at　pleasure。　He　was　at　this　moment　wheeling　Clara　out　into　the　sun；　he　left　her　in　front　of　the　hut　while　he　went　to　look　after　the　goats；　and　Heidi　ran　up　to　her　friend。

The　fresh　morning　breeze　blew　round　the　children's　faces；　and　every　fresh　puff　brought　a　waft　of　fragrance　from　the　fir　trees。　Clara　drew　it　in　with　delight　and　lay　back　in　her　chair　with　an　unaccustomed　feeling　of　health　and　comfort。

It　was　the　first　time　in　her　life　that　she　had　been　out　in　the　open　country　at　this　early　hour　and　felt　the　fresh　morning　breeze；　and　the　pure　mountain　air　was　so　cool　and　refreshing　that　every　breath　she　drew　was　a　pleasure。　And　then　the　bright　sweet　sun；　which　was　not　hot　and　sultry　up　here；　but　lay　soft　and　warm　on　her　hands　and　on　the　grass　at　her　feet。　Clara　had　not　imagined　that　it　would　be　like　this　on　the　mountain。

〃O　Heidi；　if　only　I　could　stay　up　here　for　ever　with　you；〃　she　exclaimed　happily；　turning　in　her　chair　from　side　to　side　that　she　might　drink　in　the　air　and　sun　from　all　quarters。

〃Now　you　see　that　it　is　just　what　I　told　you；〃　replied　Heidi　delighted；　〃that　it　is　the　most　beautiful　thing　in　the　world　to　be　up　here　with　grandfather。〃

The　latter　at　that　moment　appeared　coming　from　the　goat　shed　and　bringing　two　small　foaming　bowls　of　snow…white　milkone　for　Clara　and　one　for　Heidi。

〃That　will　do　the　little　daughter　good；〃　he　said；　nodding　to　Clara；　〃it　is　from　Little　Swan　and　will　make　her　strong。　To　your　health；　child！　drink　it　up。〃

Clara　had　never　tasted　goat's　milk　before；　she　hesitated　and　smelt　it　before　putting　it　to　her　lips；　but　seeing　how　Heidi　drank　hers　up　without　hesitating；　and　how　much　she　seemed　to　like　it；　Clara　did　the　same；　and　drank　till　there　was　not　a　drop　left；　for　she　too　found　it　delicious；　tasting　just　as　if　sugar　and　cinnamon　had　been　mixed　with　it。

〃To…morrow　we　will　drink　two；〃　said　the　grandfather；　who　had　looked　on　with　satisfaction　at　seeing　her　follow　Heidi's　example。

Peter　now　arrived　with　the　goats；　and　while　Heidi　was　receiving　her　usual　crowded　morning　greetings；　Uncle　drew　Peter　aside　to　speak　to　him；　for　the　goats；　bleated　so　loudly　and　continuously　in　their　wish　to　express　their　joy　and　affection　that　no　one　could　be　heard　near　them。

〃Attend　to　what　I　have　to　say；〃　he　said。　〃From　to…day　be　sure　you　let　Little　Swan　go　where　she　likes。　She　has　an　instinct　where　to　find　the　best　food　for　herself；　and　so　if　she　wants　to　climb　higher；　you　follow　her；　and　it　will　do　the　others　no　harm　if　they　go　too；　on　no　account　bring　her　back。　A　little　more　climbing　won't　hurt　you；　and　in　this　matter　she　probably　knows　better　than　you　what　is　good　for　her；　I　want　her　to　give　as　fine　milk　as　possible。　Why　are　you　looking　over　there　as　if　you　wanted　to　eat　somebody？　Nobody　will　interfere　with　you。　So　now　be　off　and　remember　what　I　say。〃

Peter　was　accustomed　to　give　immediate　obedience　to　Uncle；　and　he　marched　off　with　his　goats；　but　with　a　turn　of　the　head　and　roll　of　the　eye　that　showed　he　had　some　thought　in　reserve。　The　goats　carried　Heidi　along　with　them　a　little　way；　which　was　what　Peter　wanted。　〃You　will　have　to　come　with　them；〃　he　called　to　her；　〃for　I　shall　be　obliged　to　follow　Little　Swan。〃

〃I　cannot；〃　Heidi　called　back　from　the　midst　of　her　friends；　〃and　I　shall　not　be　able　to　come　for　a　long；　long　timenot　as　long　as　Clara　is　with　me。　Grandfather；　however；　has　promised　to　go　up　the　mountain　with　both　of　us　one　day。〃

Heidi　had　now　extricated　herself　from　the　goats　and　she　ran　back　to　Clara。　Peter　doubled　his　fists　and　made　threatening　gestures　towards　the　invalid　on　her　couch；　and　then　climbed　up　some　distance　without　pause　until　he　was　out　of　sight；　for　he　was　afraid　Uncle　might　have　seen　him；　and　he　did　not　care　to　know　what　Uncle　might　have　thought　of　the　fists。

Clara　and　Heidi　had　made　so　many　plans　for　themselves　that　they　hardly　knew　where　to　begin。　Heidi　suggested　that　they　should　first　write　to　grandmamma；　to　whom　they　had　promised　to　send　word　every　day；　for　grandmamma　had　not　felt　sure　whether　it　would　in　the　long　run　suit　Clara's　health　to　remain　up　the　mountain；　or　if　she　would　continue　to　enjoy　herself　there。　With　daily　news　of　her　granddaughter　she　could　stay　on　without　anxiety　at　Ragatz；　and　be　ready　to　go　to　Clara　at　a　moment's　notice。

〃Must　we　go　indoors　to　write？〃　asked　Clara；　who　agreed　to　Heidi's　proposal　but　did　not　want　to　move　from　where　she　was；　as　it　was　so　much　nicer　outside。　Heidi　was　prepared　to　arrange　everything。　She　ran　in　and　brought　out　her　school…book　and　writing　things　and　her　own　little　stool。　She　put　her　reading　book　and　copy　book　on　Clara's　knees；　to　make　a　desk　for　her　to　write　upon；　and　she　herself　took　her　seat　on　the　stool　and　sat　to　the　bench；　and　then　they　both　began　writing　to　grandmamma。　But　Clara　paused　after　every　sentence　to　look　about　her；　it　was　too　beautiful　for　much　letter　writing。　The　breeze　had　sunk　a　little；　and　now　only　gently　fanned　her　face　and　whispered　lightly　through　the　fir　trees。　Little　winged　insects　hummed　and　danced　around　her　in　the　clear　air；　and　a　great　stillness　lay　over　the　far；　wide；　sunny　pasture　lands。　Lofty　and　silent　rose　the　high　mountain　peaks　above　her；　and　below　lay　the　whole　broad　valley　full　of　quiet　peace。　Only　now　and　again　the　call　of　some　shepherd…boy　rang　out　through　the　air；　and　echo　answered　softly　from　the　rocks。　The　morning　passed；　the　children　hardly　knew　how；　and　now　grandfather　came　with　the　mid…day　bowls　of　steaming　milk；　for　the　little　daughter；　he　said；　was　to　remain　out　as　long　as　there　was　a　gleam　of　sun　in　the　sky。　The　mid…day　meal　was　set　out　and　eaten　as　yesterday　in　the　open　air。　Then　Heidi　pushed　Clara's　chair　under　the　fir　trees；　for　they　had　agreed　to　spend　the　afternoon　under　their　shade　and　there　tell　each　other　all　that　had　happened　since　Heidi　left　Frankfurt。　If　everything　had　gone　on　there　as　usual　in　a　general　way；　there　were　still　all　kinds　of　particular　things　to　tell　Heidi　about　the　various　people　who　composed　the　Sesemann　household；　and　who　were　all　so　well　known　to　Heidi。

So　they　sat　and　chatted　under　the　trees；　and　the　more　lively　grew　their　conversation；　the　more　loudly　sang　the　birds　overhead；　as　if　wishing　to　take　part　in　the　children's　gossip；　which　evidently　pleased　them。　So　the　hours　flew　by　and　all　at　once；　as　it　seemed；　the　evening　had　come　with　the　returning　Pe