heidi-第10章
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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 f
