heidi-第54节

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h　the　goats　up　to　where　the　flowers　grow；　and　enjoy　ourselves　from　the　moment　you　arrive。〃

Herr　Sesemann　had　come　as　arranged　to　fetch　his　little　daughter　away；　and　was　just　now　standing　and　talking　with　Uncle；　for　they　had　much　to　say　to　one　another。　Clara　felt　somewhat　consoled　by　Heidi's　words；　and　wiped　away　her　tears。

〃Be　sure　you　say　good…bye　for　me　to　Peter　and　the　goats；　and　especially　to　Little　Swan。　I　wish　I　could　give　Little　Swan　a　present；　for　she　has　helped　so　much　to　make　me　strong。〃

〃Well；　you　can　if　you　like；〃　replied　Heidi；　〃send　her　a　little　salt；　you　know　how　she　likes　to　lick　some　out　of　grandfather's　hand　when　she　comes　home　at　night。〃

Clara　was　delighted　at　this　idea。　〃Oh；　then　I　shall　send　a　hundred　pounds　of　salt　from　Frankfurt；　for　I　want　her　to　have　something　as　a　remembrance　of　me。〃

Herr　Sesemann　now　beckoned　to　the　children　as　it　was　time　to　be　off。　Grandmamma's　white　horse　had　been　brought　up　for　Clara；　as　she　was　no　longer　obliged　to　be　carried　in　a　chair。

Heidi　ran　to　the　far　edge　of　the　slope　and　continued　to　wave　her　hand　to　Clara　until　the　last　glimpse　of　horse　and　rider　had　disappeared。

And　now　the　bed　has　arrived；　and　grandmother　is　sleeping　so　soundly　all　night　that　she　is　sure　to　grow　stronger。

Grandmamma；　moreover；　has　not　forgotten　how　cold　the　winter　is　on　the　mountain。　She　has　sent　a　large　parcel　of　warm　clothing　of　every　description；　so　that　grandmother　can　wrap　herself　round　and　round；　and　will　certainly　not　tremble　with　cold　now　as　she　sits　in　her　corner。

There　is　a　great　deal　of　building　going　on　at　Dorfli。　The　doctor　has　arrived；　and；　for　the　present；　is　occupying　his　old　quarters。　His　friends　have　advised　him　to　buy　the　old　house　that　Uncle　and　Heidi　live　in　during　the　winter；　which　had　evidently；　judging　from　the　height　of　the　rooms　and　the　magnificent　stove　with　its　artistically…painted　tiles；　been　a　fine　gentleman's　place　at　one　time。　The　doctor　is　having　this　part　of　the　old　house　rebuilt　for　himself；　the　other　part　being　repaired　for　Uncle　and　Heidi；　for　the　doctor　is　aware　that　Uncle　is　a　man　of　independent　spirit；　who　likes　to　have　a　house　to　himself。　Quite　at　the　back　a　warm　and　well…walled　stall　is　being　put　up　for　the　two　goats；　and　there　they　will　pass　their　winter　in　comfort。

The　doctor　and　Uncle　are　becoming　better　friends　every　day；　and　as　they　walk　about　the　new　buildings　to　see　how　they　are　getting　on；　their　thoughts　continually　turn　to　Heidi；　for　the　chief　pleasure　to　each　in　connection　with　the　house　is　that　they　will　have　the　light…hearted　little　child　with　them　there。

〃Dear　friend；〃　said　the　doctor　on　one　of　these　occasions　as　they　were　standing　together；　〃you　will　see　this　matter　in　the　same　light　as　I　do；　I　am　sure。　I　share　your　happiness　in　the　child　as　if；　next　to　you；　I　was　the　one　to　whom　she　most　closely　belonged；　but　I　wish　also　to　share　all　responsibilities；　concerning　her　and　to　do　my　best　for　the　child。　I　shall　then　feel　I　have　my　rights　in　her；　and　shall　look　forward　to　her　being　with　me　and　caring　for　me　in　my　old　age；　which　is　the　one　great　wish　of　my　heart。　She　will　have　the　same　claims　upon　me　as　if　she　were　my　own　child；　and　I　shall　provide　for　her　as　such；　and　so　we　shall　be　able　to　leave　her　without　anxiety　when　the　day　comes　that　you　and　I　must　go。〃

Uncle　did　not　speak；　but　he　clasped　the　doctor's　hand　in　his；　and　his　good　friend　could　read　in　the　old　man's　eyes　how　greatly　moved　he　was　and　how　glad　and　grateful　he　felt。

Heidi　and　Peter　were　at　this　moment　sitting　with　grandmother；　and　the　one　had　so　much　to　relate；　and　the　others　to　listen　to；　that　they　all　three　got　closer　and　closer　to　one　another；　hardly　able　to　breathe　in　their　eagerness　not　to　miss　a　word。

And　how　much　there　was　to　tell　of　all　the　events　that　had　taken　place　that　last　summer；　for　they　had　not　had　many　opportunities　of　meeting　since　then。

And　it　was　difficult　to　say　which　of　the　three　looked　the　happiest　at　being　together　again；　and　at　the　recollection　of　all　the　wonderful　things　that　had　happened。　Mother　Brigitta's　face　was　perhaps　the　happiest　of　all；　as　now；　with　the　help　of　explanation　she　was　able　to　understand　for　the　first　time　the　history　of　Peter's　weekly　penny　for　life。

Then　at　last　the　grandmother　spoke；　〃Heidi；　read　me　one　of　the　hymns！　I　can　feel　I　can　do　nothing　for　the　remainder　of　my　life　but　thank　the　Father　in　Heaven　for　all　the　mercies　he　has　shown　us！〃




End