heidi-第5节

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on　each　side。　Heidi　watched　all　that　was　going　on　with　eager　curiosity。　Suddenly　some　new　idea　seemed　to　come　into　her　head；　for　she　turned　and　ran　to　the　cupboard；　and　then　began　going　busily　backwards　and　forwards。　Presently　the　grandfather　got　up　and　came　to　the　table　with　a　jug　and　the　cheese；　and　there　he　saw　it　already　tidily　laid　with　the　round　loaf　and　two　plates　and　two　knives　each　in　its　right　place；　for　Heidi　had　taken　exact　note　that　morning　of　all　that　there　was　in　the　cupboard；　and　she　knew　which　things　would　be　wanted　for　their　meal。

〃Ah；　that's　right；〃　said　the　grandfather；　〃I　am　glad　to　see　that　you　have　some　ideas　of　your　own；〃　and　as　he　spoke　he　laid　the　toasted　cheese　on　a　layer　of　bread；　〃but　there　is　still　something　missing。〃

Heidi　looked　at　the　jug　that　was　steaming　away　invitingly；　and　ran　quickly　back　to　the　cupboard。　At　first　she　could　only　see　a　small　bowl　left　on　the　shelf；　but　she　was　not　long　in　perplexity；　for　a　moment　later　she　caught　sight　of　two　glasses…further　back；　and　without　an　instant's　loss　of　time　she　returned　with　these　and　the　bowl　and　put　them　down　on　the　table。

〃Good；　I　see　you　know　how　to　set　about　things；　but　what　will　you　do　for　a　seat？〃　The　grandfather　himself　was　sitting　on　the　only　chair　in　the　room。　Heidi　flew　to　the　hearth；　and　dragging　the　three…legged　stool　up　to　the　table；　sat　herself　down　upon　it。

Well；　you　have　managed　to　find　a　seat　for　yourself；　I　see；　only　rather　a　low　one　I　am　afraid；〃　said　the　grandfather；　〃but　you　would　not　be　tall　enough　to　reach　the　table　even　if　you　sat　in　my　chair；　the　first　thing　now；　however；　is　to　have　something　to　eat；　so　come　along。〃

With　that　he　stood　up；　filled　the　bowl　with　milk；　and　placing　it　on　the　chair；　pushed　it　in　front　of　Heidi　on　her　little　three…legged　stool；　so　that　she　now　had　a　table　to　herself。　Then　he　brought　her　a　large　slice　of　bread　and　a　piece　of　the　golden　cheese；　and　told　her　to　eat。　After　which　he　went　and　sat　down　on　the　corner　of　the　table　and　began　his　own　meal。　Heidi　lifted　the　bowl　with　both　hands　and　drank　without　pause　till　it　was　empty；　for　the　thirst　of　all　her　long　hot　journey　had　returned　upon　her。　Then　she　drew　a　deep　breathin　the　eagerness　of　her　thirst　she　had　not　stopped　to　breatheand　put　down　the　bowl。

〃Was　the　milk　nice？〃　asked　her　grandfather。

〃I　never　drank　any　so　good　before；〃　answered　Heidi。

〃Then　you　must　have　some　more；〃　and　the　old　man　filled　her　bowl　again　to　the　brim　and　set　it　before　the　child；　who　was　now　hungrily　beginning　her　bread　having　first　spread　it　with　the　cheese；　which　after　being　toasted　was　soft　as　butter；　the　two　together　tasted　deliciously；　and　the　child　looked　the　picture　of　content　as　she　sat　eating；　and　at　intervals　taking　further　draughts　of　milk。　The　meal　being　over；　the　grandfather　went　outside　to　put　the　goat…shed　in　order；　and　Heidi　watched　with　interest　while　he　first　swept　it　out；　and　then　put　fresh　straw　for　the　goats　to　sleep　upon。　Then　he　went　to　the　little　well…shed；　and　there　he　cut　some　long　round　sticks；　and　a　small　round　board；　in　this　he　bored　some　holes　and　stuck　the　sticks　into　them；　and　there；　as　if　made　by　magic；　was　a　three…legged　stool　just　like　her　grandfather's；　only　higher。　Heidi　stood　and　looked　at　it；　speechless　with　astonishment。

〃What　do　you　think　that　is？〃　asked　her　grandfather。

〃It's　my　stool；　I　know；　because　it　is　such　a　high　one；　and　it　was　made　all　of　a　minute；〃　said　the　child；　still　lost　in　wonder　and　admiration。

〃She　understands　what　she　sees；　her　eyes　are　in　the　right　place；〃　remarked　the　grandfather　to　himself；　as　he　continued　his　way　round　the　hut；　knocking　in　a　nail　here　and　there；　or　making　fast　some　part　of　the　door；　and　so　with　hammer　and　nails　and　pieces　of　wood　going　from　spot　to　spot；　mending　or　clearing　away　wherever　work　of　the　kind　was　needed。　Heidi　followed　him　step　by　step；　her　eyes　attentively　taking　in　all　that　he　did；　and　everything　that　she　saw　was　a　fresh　source　of　pleasure　to　her。

And　so　the　time　passed　happily　on　till　evening。　Then　the　wind　began　to　roar　louder　than　ever　through　the　old　fir　trees；　Heidi　listened　with　delight　to　the　sound；　and　it　filled　her　heart　so　full　of　gladness　that　she　skipped　and　danced　round　the　old　trees；　as　if　some　unheard　of　joy　had　come　to　her。　The　grandfather　stood　and　watched　her　from　the　shed。

Suddenly　a　shrill　whistle　was　heard。　Heidi　paused　in　her　dancing；　and　the　grandfather　came　out。　Down　from　the　heights　above　the　goats　came　springing　one　after　another；　with　Peter　in　their　midst。　Heidi　sprang　forward　with　a　cry　of　joy　and　rushed　among　the　flock；　greeting　first　one　and　then　another　of　her　old　friends　of　the　morning。　As　they　neared　the　hut　the　goats　stood　still；　and　then　two　of　their　number；　two　beautiful　slender　animals；　one　white　and　one　brown；　ran　forward　to　where　the　grandfather　was　standing　and　began　licking　his　hands；　for　he　was　holding　a　little　salt　which　he　always　had　ready　for　his　goats　on　their　return　home。　Peter　disappeared　with　the　remainder　of　his　flock。　Heidi　tenderly　stroked　the　two　goats　in　turn；　running　first　to　one　side　of　them　and　then　the　other；　and　jumping　about　in　her　glee　at　the　pretty　little　animals。　〃Are　they　ours；　grandfather？　Are　they　both　ours？　Are　you　going　to　put　them　in　the　shed？　Will　they　always　stay　with　us？〃

Heidi's　questions　came　tumbling　out　one　after　the　other；　so　that　her　grandfather　had　only　time　to　answer　each　of　them　with　〃Yes；　yes。〃　When　the　goats　had　finished　licking　up　the　salt　her　grandfather　told　her　to　go　and　fetch　her　bowl　and　the　bread。

Heidi　obeyed　and　was　soon　back　again。　The　grandfather　milked　the　white　goat　and　filled　her　basin；　and　then　breaking　off　a　piece　of　bread；　〃Now　eat　your　supper；〃　he　said；　〃and　then　go　up　to　bed。　Cousin　Dete　left　another　little　bundle　for　you　with　a　nightgown　and　other　small　things　in　it；　which　you　will　find　at　the　bottom　of　the　cupboard　if　you　want　them。　I　must　go　and　shut　up　the　goats；　so　be　off　and　sleep　well。〃

〃Good…night；　grandfather！　good…night。　What　are　their　names；　grandfather；　what　are　their　names？〃　she　called　out　as　she　ran　after　his　retreating　figure　and　the　goats。

〃The　white　one　is　named　Little　Swan；　and　the　brown　one　Little　Bear；〃　he　answered。

〃Good…night；　Little　Swan；　good…night；　Little　Bear！〃　she　called　again　at　the　top　of　her　voice；　for　they　were　already　inside　the　shed。　Then　she　sat　down　on　the　seat　and　began　to　eat　and　drink；　but　the　wind　was　so　strong　that　it　almost　blew　her　away；　so　she　made　haste　and　finished　her　supper　and　then　went　indoors　and　climbed　up　to　her　bed；　where　she　was　soon　lying　as　sweetly　and　soundly　asleep　as　any　young　princess　on　her　couch　of　silk。

Not　long　after；　and　while　it　was　still　twilight；　the　grandfather　also　went　to　bed；　for　he　was　up　every　morning　at　sunrise；　and　the　sun　came　climbing　up　over　the　mountains　at　a　very　early　hour　during　these　summer　months。　The　wind　grew　so　tempestuous　during　the　night；　and　blew　in　such　gusts　against　the　walls；　that　the　hut　trembled　and　the　old　beams　groaned　and　creaked。　It　came　howling　and　wailing　down　the　chimney　like　voices　of　those　in　pain；　and　it　raged　with　such　fury　among　the　old　fir　trees　that　here　and　there　a　branch　was　snapped　and　fell。　In　the　middle　of　the　night　the　old　man　got　up。　〃The　child　will　be　frightened；〃　he　murmured　half　aloud。　He　mounted　the　ladder　and　went　and　stood　by　the　child's　bed。

Outside　the　moon　was　struggling　with　the　dark；　fast…driving　clouds；　which　at　one　moment　left　it　clear　and　shining；　and　the　next　swept　over　it；　and　all　again　was　dark。　Just　now　the　moonlight　was　falling　through　the　round　window　straight　on　to　Heidi's　bed。　She　lay　under　the　heavy　coverlid；　her　cheeks　rosy　with　sleep；　her　head　peacefully　resting　on　her　little　round　arm；　and　with　a　happy　expression　on　her　baby　face　as　if　dreaming　of　something　pleasant。　The　old　man　stood　looking　down　on　the　sleeping　child　until　the　moon　again　disappeared　behind　the　clouds　and　he　could　see　no　more；　then　he　went　back　to　bed。



CHAPTER　III。　OUT　WITH　THE　GOATS

Heidi　was　awakened　early　the　next　morning　by　a　loud　whistle；　the　sun　was　shining　through　the　round　window　and　failing　in　golden　rays　on　her　bed　and　on　the　large　heap　of　hay；　and　as　she　opened　her　eyes　everything　in　the　loft　seemed　gleaming　with　gold。　She　looked　around　her　in　astonishment　and　could　not　imagine　for　a　while　where　she　was。　But　her　grandfather's　deep　voice　was　now　heard　outside；　and　then　Heidi　began　to　recall　all　that　had　happened：　how　she　had　come　away　from　her　former　home　and　was　now　on　the　mountain　with　her　grandfather　instead　of　with　old　Ursula。　The　latter　was　nearly　stone　deaf　and　always　felt　cold；　so　that　she　sat　all　day　either　by　the　hearth　in　the　kitchen　or　by　the　sitting…room　stove；　and　Heidi　had　been　obliged　to　stay　close　to　her；　for　the　old　woman　was　so　deaf　that　she　could　not　tell　where　the　child　was　if　out　of　her　sight。　And　Heidi；　shut　up　within　the　four　walls；　had　often　longed　to　be　out　of　doors。　So　she　felt　very　happy　this　morning　as　she　woke　up　in　her　new　home　and　remembered　all　the　many　new　things　that　she　had　seen　the　day　before　and　which　she　would　see　again　that　day；　and　above　all　she　thought　with　delight　of　the　two　dear　goats。　Heidi　jumped　quickly　out　of　bed　and　a　very　few　minutes　sufficed　her　to　put　on　t