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第52节

heidi-第52节

小说: heidi 字数: 每页4000字

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angry。〃 And saying this she went back to Peter; who still stood frightened and trembling。 She sat down on the seat under the fir trees and called him to her kindly;

〃Come here; boy; and stand in front of me; for I have something to say to you。 Leave off shaking and trembling; for I want you to listen to me。 You sent the chair rolling down the mountain so that it was broken to pieces。 That was a very wrong thing to do; as you yourself knew very well at the time; and you also knew that you deserved to be punished for it; and in order to escape this you have been doing all you can to hide the truth from everybody。 But be sure of this; Peter: that those who do wrong make a mistake when they think no one knows anything about it。 For God sees and hears everything; and when the wicked doer tries to hide what he has done;

then God wakes up a little watchman that He places inside us all when we are born and who sleeps on quietly till we do something wrong。 And the little watchman has a small goad in his hand; And when he wakes up he keeps on pricking us with it; so that we have not a moment's peace。 And the watchman torments us still further; for he keeps on calling out; 'Now you will be found out! Now they will drag you off to punishment!' And so we pass our life in fear and trouble; and never know a moment's happiness or peace。 Have you not felt something like that lately; Peter?〃

Peter gave a contrite nod of the head; as one who knew all about it; for grandmamma had described his own feelings exactly。

〃And you calculated wrongly also in another way;〃 continued grandmamma; 〃for you see the harm you intended has turned out for the best for those you wished to hurt。 As Clara had no chair to go in and yet wanted so much to see the flowers; she made the effort to walk; and every day since she has been walking better and better; and if she remains up here she will in time be able to go up the mountain every day; much oftener than she would have done in her chair。 So you see; Peter; God is able to bring good out of evil for those whom you meant to injure; and you who did the evil were left to suffer the unhappy consequences of it。 Do you thoroughly understand all I have said to you; Peter? If so; do not forget my words; and whenever you feel inclined to do anything wrong; think of the little watchman inside you with his goad and his disagreeable voice。 Will you remember all this?〃

〃Yes; I will;〃 answered Peter; still very subdued; for he did not yet know how the matter was going to end; as the police constable was still standing with the Uncle。

〃That's right; and now the thing is over and done for;〃 said grandmamma。 〃But I should like you to have something for a pleasant reminder of the visitors from Frankfurt。 Can you tell me anything that you have wished very much to have? What would you like best as a present?〃

Peter lifted his head at this; and stared open…eyed at grandmamma。 Up to the last minute he had been expecting something dreadful to happen; and now he might have anything that he wanted。 His mind seemed all of a whirl。

〃I mean what I say;〃 went on grandmamma。 〃You shall choose what you would like to have as a remembrance from the Frankfurt visitors; and as a token that they will not think any more of the wrong thing you did。 Now do you understand me; boy?〃

The fact began at last to dawn upon Peter's mind that he had no further punishment to fear; and that the kind lady sitting in front of him had delivered him from the police constable。 He suddenly felt as if the weight of a mountain had fallen off him。 He had also by this time awakened to the further conviction that it was better to make a full confession at once of anything he had done wrong or had left undone; and so he said; 〃And I lost the paper; too。〃

Grandmamma had to consider a moment what he meant; but soon recalled his connection with her telegram; and answered kindly;

〃You are a good boy to tell me! Never conceal anything you have done wrong; and then all will come right again。 And now what would you like me to give you?〃

Peter grew almost giddy with the thought that he could have anything in the world that he wished for。 He had a vision of the yearly fair at Mayenfeld with the glittering stalls and all the lovely things that he had stood gazing at for hours; without a hope of ever possessing one of them; for Peter's purse never held more than a halfpenny; and all these fascinating objects cost double that amount。 There were the pretty little red whistles that he could use to call his goats; and the splendid knives with rounded handles; known as toad…strikers; with which one could do such famous work among the hazel bushes。

Peter remained pondering; he was trying to think which of these two desirable objects he should best like to have; and he found it difficult to decide。 Then a bright thought occurred to him; he would then be able to think over the matter between now and next year's fair。

〃A penny;〃 answered Peter; who was no longer in doubt。

Grandmamma could not help laughing。 〃That is not an extravagant request。 Come here then!〃 and she pulled out her purse and put four bright round shillings in his hand and; then laid some pennies on top of it。 〃We will settle our accounts at once;〃 she continued; 〃and I will explain them to you。 I have given you as many pennies as there are weeks in the year; and so every Sunday throughout the year you can take out a penny to spend。〃

〃As long as I live?〃 said Peter quite innocently。

Grandmamma laughed more still at this; and the men hearing her; paused in their talk to listen to what was going on。

〃Yes; boy; you shall have it all your lifeI will put it down in my will。 Do you hear; my son? and you are to put it down in yours as well: a penny a week to Peter as long as he lives。〃

Herr Sesemann nodded his assent and joined in the laughter。

Peter looked again at the present in his hand to make sure he was not dreaming; and then said; 〃Thank God!〃

And he went off running and leaping with more even than his usual agility; and this time managed to keep his feet; for it was not fear; but joy such as he had never known before in his life; that now sent him flying up the mountain。 All trouble and trembling had disappeared; and he was to have a penny every week for life。

As later; after dinner; the party were sitting together chatting; Clara drew her father a little aside; and said with an eagerness that had been unknown to the little tired invalid;

〃O papa; if you only knew all that grandfather has done for me from day to day! I cannot reckon his kindnesses; but I shall never forget them as long as I live! And I keep on thinking what I could do for him; or what present I could make him that would give him half as much pleasure as he has given me。〃

〃That is just what I wish most myself; Clara;〃 replied her father; whose face grew happier each time he looked at his little daughter。 〃I have been also thinking how we can best show our gratitude to our good benefactor。〃

Herr Sesemann now went over to where Uncle and grandmamma were engaged in lively conversation。 Uncle stood up as he approached; and Herr Sesemann; taking him by the hand said;

〃Dear friend; let us exchange a few words with one another。 You will believe me when I tell you that I have known no real happiness for years past。 What worth to me were money and property when they were unable to make my poor child well and happy? With the help of God you have made her whole and strong; and you have given new life not only to her but to me。 Tell me now; in what way can I show my gratitude to you? I can never repay all you have done; but whatever is in my power to do is at your service。 Speak; friend; and tell me what I can do?〃

Uncle had listened to him quietly; with a smile of pleasure on his face as he looked at the happy father。

〃Herr Sesemann;〃 he replied in his dignified way; 〃believe me that I too have my share in the joy of your daughter's recovery; and my trouble is well repaid by it。 I thank you heartily for all you have said; but I have need of nothing; I have enough for myself and the child as long as I live。 One wish alone I have; and if that could be satisfied I should have no further care in life。〃

〃Speak; dear friend; and tell me what it is;〃 said Herr Sesemann entreatingly。

〃I am growing old;〃 Uncle went on; 〃and shall not be here much longer。 I have nothing to leave the child when I die; and she has no relations; except one person who will always like to make what profit out of her she can。 If you could promise me that Heidi shall never have to go and earn her living among strangers; then you would richly reward me for all I have done for your child。〃

〃There could never be any question of such a thing as that; my dear friend;〃 said Herr Sesemann quickly。 〃I look upon the child as our own。 Ask my mother; my daughter; you may be sure that they will never allow the child to be left in any one else's care! But if it will make you happier I give you here my hand upon it。 I promise you: Heidi shall never have to go and earn her living among strangers; I will make provision against this both during my life and after。 But now I have something else to say。 Independent of her circumstances; the child

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