heidi-第9节

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　trees　the　wind　blew　through　her　as　if　she　was　a　thin　little　leaf；　but　still　she　felt　she　could　not　stay　indoors　when　she　heard　the　branches　waving　outside。

Then　it　grew　very　cold；　and　Peter　would　come　up　early　in　the　morning　blowing　on　his　fingers　to　keep　them　warm。　But　he　soon　left　off　coming；　for　one　night　there　was　a　heavy　fall　of　snow　and　the　next　morning　the　whole　mountain　was　covered　with　it；　and　not　a　single　little　green　leaf　was　to　be　seen　anywhere　upon　it。　There　was　no　Peter　that　day；　and　Heidi　stood　at　the　little　window　looking　out　in　wonderment；　for　the　snow　was　beginning　again；　and　the　thick　flakes　kept　falling　till　the　snow　was　up　to　the　window；　and　still　they　continued　to　fall；　and　the　snow　grew　higher；　so　that　at　last　the　window　could　not　be　opened；　and　she　and　her　grandfather　were　shut　up　fast　within　the　hut。　Heidi　thought　this　was　great　fun　and　ran　from　one　window　to　the　other　to　see　what　would　happen　next；　and　whether　the　snow　was　going　to　cover　up　the　whole　hut；　so　that　they　would　have　to　light　a　lamp　although　it　was　broad　daylight。　But　things　did　not　get　as　bad　as　that；　and　the　next　day；　the　snow　having　ceased；　the　grandfather　went　out　and　shovelled　away　the　snow　round　the　house；　and　threw　it　into　such　great　heaps　that　they　looked　like　mountains　standing　at　intervals　on　either　side　the　hut。　And　now　the　windows　and　door　could　be　opened；　and　it　was　well　it　was　so；　for　as　Heidi　and　her　grandfather　were　sitting　one　afternoon　on　their　three…legged　stools　before　the　fire　there　came　a　great　thump　at　the　door　followed　by　several　others；　and　then　the　door　opened。　It　was　Peter；　who　had　made　all　that　noise　knocking　the　snow　off　his　shoes；　he　was　still　white　all　over　with　it；　for　he　had　had　to　fight　his　way　through　deep　snowdrifts；　and　large　lumps　of　snow　that　had　frozen　upon　him　still　clung　to　his　clothes。　He　had　been　determined；　however；　not　to　be　beaten　and　to　climb　up　to　the　hut；　for　it　was　a　week　now　since　he　had　seen　Heidi。

〃Good…evening；〃　he　said　as　he　came　in；　then　he　went　and　placed　himself　as　near　the　fire　as　he　could　without　saying　another　word；　but　his　whole　face　was　beaming　with　pleasure　at　finding　himself　there。　Heidi　looked　on　in　astonishment；　for　Peter　was　beginning　to　thaw　all　over　with　the　warmth；　so　that　he　had　the　appearance　of　a　trickling　waterfall。

〃Well；　General；　and　how　goes　it　with　you？〃　said　the　grandfather；　〃now　that　you　have　lost　your　army　you　will　have　to　turn　to　your　pen　and　pencil。〃

〃Why　must　he　turn　to　his　pen　and　pencil？〃　asked　Heidi　immediately；　full　of　curiosity。

〃During　the　winter　he　must　go　to　school；〃　explained　her　grandfather；　〃and　learn　how　to　read　and　write；　it's　a　bit　hard；　although　useful　sometimes　afterwards。　Am　I　not　right；　General？〃

〃Yes；　indeed；〃　assented　Peter。

Heidi's　interest　was　now　thoroughly　awakened；　and　she　had　so　many　questions　to　put　to　Peter　about　all　that　was　to　be　done　and　seen　and　heard　at　school；　and　the　conversation　took　so　long　that　Peter　had　time　to　get　thoroughly　dry。　Peter　had　always　great　difficulty　in　putting　his　thoughts　into　words；　and　he　found　his　share　of　the　talk　doubly　difficult　to…day；　for　by　the　time　he　had　an　answer　ready　to　one　of　Heidi's　questions　she　had　already　put　two　or　three　more　to　him；　and　generally　such　as　required　a　whole　long　sentence　in　reply。

The　grandfather　sat　without　speaking　during　this　conversation；　only　now　and　then　a　twitch　of　amusement　at　the　corners　of　his　mouth　showed　that　he　was　listening。

〃Well；　now；　General；　you　have　been　under　fire　for　some　time　and　must　want　some　refreshment；　come　and　join　us；〃　he　said　at　last；　and　as　he　spoke　he　rose　and　went　to　fetch　the　supper　out　of　the　cupboard；　and　Heidi　pushed　the　stools　to　the　table。　There　was　also　now　a　bench　fastened　against　the　wall；　for　as　he　was　no　longer　alone　the　grandfather　had　put　up　seats　of　various　kinds　here　and　there。　long　enough　to　hold　two　persons；　for　Heidi　had　a　way　of　always　keeping　close　to　her　grandfather　whether　he　was　walking；　sitting　or　standing。　So　there　was　comfortable　place　for　them　all　three；　and　Peter　opened　his　round　eyes　very　wide　when　he　saw　what　a　large　piece　of　meat　Alm…Uncle　gave　him　on　his　thick　slice　of　bread。　It　was　a　long　time　since　Peter　had　had　anything　so　nice　to　eat。　As　soon　as　the　pleasant　meal　was　over　Peter　began　to　get　ready　for　returning　home；　for　it　was　already　growing　dark。　He　had　said　his　〃good…night〃　and　his　thanks；　and　was　just　going　out；　when　he　turned　again　and　said；　〃I　shall　come　again　next　Sunday；　this　day　week；　and　grandmother　sent　word　that　she　would　like　you　to　come　and　see　her　one　day。〃

It　was　quite　a　new　idea　to　Heidi　that　she　should　go　and　pay　anybody　a　visit；　and　she　could　not　get　it　out　of　her　head；　so　the　first　thing　she　said　to　her　grandfather　the　next　day　was；　〃I　must　go　down　to　see　the　grandmother　to…day；　she　will　be　expecting　me。〃

〃The　snow　is　too　deep；〃　answered　the　grandfather；　trying　to　put　her　off。　But　Heidi　had　made　up　her　mind　to　go；　since　the　grandmother　had　sent　her　that　message。　She　stuck　to　her　intention　and　not　a　day　passed　but　what　in　the　course　of　it　she　said　five　or　six　times　to　her　grandfather；　〃I　must　certainly　go　to…day；　the　grandmother　will　be　waiting　for　me。〃

On　the　fourth　day；　when　with　every　step　one　took　the　ground　crackled　with　frost　and　the　whole　vast　field　of　snow　was　hard　as　ice；　Heidi　was　sitting　on　her　high　stool　at　dinner　with　the　bright　sun　shining　in　upon　her　through　the　window；　and　again　repeated　her　little　speech；　〃I　must　certainly　go　down　to　see　the　grandmother　to…day；　or　else　I　shall　keep　her　waiting　too　long。〃

The　grandfather　rose　from　table；　climbed　up　to　the　hay…loft　and　brought　down　the　thick　sack　that　was　Heidi's　coverlid；　and　said；　〃Come　along　then！〃　The　child　skipped　out　gleefully　after　him　into　the　glittering　world　of　snow。

The　old　fir　trees　were　standing　now　quite　silent；　their　branches　covered　with　the　white　snow；　and　they　looked　so　lovely　as　they　glittered　and　sparkled　in　the　sunlight　that　Heidi　jumped　for　joy　at　the　sight　and　kept　on　calling　out；　〃Come　here；　come　here；　grandfather！　The　fir　trees　are　all　silver　and　gold！〃　The　grandfather　had　gone　into　the　shed　and　he　now　came　out　dragging　a　large　hand…sleigh　along　with　him；　inside　it　was　a　low　seat；　and　the　sleigh　could　be　pushed　forward　and　guided　by　the　feet　of　the　one　who　sat　upon　it　with　the　help　of　a　pole　that　was　fastened　to　the　side。　After　he　had　been　taken　round　the　fir　trees　by　Heidi　that　he　might　see　their　beauty　from　all　sides；　he　got　into　the　sleigh　and　lifted　the　child　on　to　his　lap；　then　he　wrapped　her　up　in　the　sack；　that　she　might　keep　nice　and　warm；　and　put　his　left　arm　closely　round　her；　for　it　was　necessary　to　hold　her　tight　during　the　coming　journey。　He　now　grasped　the　pole　with　his　right　hand　and　gave　the　sleigh　a　push　forward　with　his　two　feet。　The　sleigh　shot　down　the　mountain　side　with　such　rapidity　that　Heidi　thought　they　were　flying　through　the　air　like　a　bird；　and　shouted　aloud　with　delight。　Suddenly　they　came　to　a　standstill；　and　there　they　were　at　Peter's　hut。　Her　grandfather　lifted　her　out　and　unwrapped　her。　〃There　you　are；　now　go　in；　and　when　it　begins　to　grow　dark　you　must　start　on　your　way　home　again。〃　Then　he　left　her　and　went　up　the　mountain；　pulling　his　sleigh　after　him。

Heidi　opened　the　door　of　the　hut　and　stepped　into　a　tiny　room　that　looked　very　dark；　with　a　fireplace　and　a　few　dishes　on　a　wooden　shelf；　this　was　the　little　kitchen。　She　opened　another　door；　and　now　found　herself　in　another　small　room；　for　the　place　was　not　a　herdsman's　hut　like　her　grandfather's；　with　one　large　room　on　the　ground　floor　and　a　hay…loft　above；　but　a　very　old　cottage；　where　everything　was　narrow　and　poor　and　shabby。　A　table　was　close　to　the　door；　and　as　Heidi　stepped　in　she　saw　a　woman　sitting　at　it；　putting　a　patch　on　a　waistcoat　which　Heidi　recognised　at　once　as　Peter's。　In　the　corner　sat　an　old　woman；　bent　with　age；　spinning。　Heidi　was　quite　sure　this　was　the　grandmother；　so　she　went　up　to　the　spinning…wheel　and　said；　〃Good…day；　grandmother；　I　have　come　at　last；　did　you　think　I　was　a　long　time　coming？〃

The　woman　raised　her　head　and　felt　for　the　hand　that　the　child　held　out　to　her；　and　when　she　found　it；　she　passed　her　own　over　it　thoughtfully　for　a　few　seconds；　and　then　said；　〃Are　you　the　child　who　lives　up　with　Alm…Uncle；　are　you　Heidi？〃

〃Yes；　yes；〃　answered　Heidi；　〃I　have　just　come　down　in　the　sleigh　with　grandfather。〃

〃Is　it　possible！　Why　your　hands　are　quite　warm！　Brigitta；　did　Alm…Uncle　come　himself　with　the　child？〃

Peter's　mother　had　left　her　work　and　risen　from　the　table　and　now　stood　looking　at　Heidi　with　curiosity；　scanning　her　from　head　to　foot。　〃I　do　not　know；　mother；　whether　Uncle　came　himself；　it　is　hardly　likely；　the　child　probably　makes　a　mistake。〃

But　Heidi　looked　steadily　at　the　woman；　not　at　all　as　if　in　any　uncertainty；　and　said；　〃I　know　quite　well　who　wrapped　me　in　my　bedcover　and　brought　me　down　in　the　sleigh：　it　was　grandfather。〃

〃There　was　some　truth　then　perhaps　in　what　Peter　used　to　tell　us　of　Alm…Uncle　during　the　summer；　when　we　thought　he　must　be　wrong；〃　said　grandmother；　〃but　who　would　ever　have　believed　that　such　a　thing　was　possible？　I　did　not　think　the　child　would　live　three　weeks　up　there。　What　is　she　like；