heidi-第13章

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w　away　the　snow；　and　the　warm　sun　would　entice　the　blue　and　yellow　flowers　to　show　their　heads；　and　the　long　days　out　on　the　mountain　would　come　again；　which　seemed　to　Heidi　the　greatest　joy　that　the　earth　could　give。　Heidi　was　now　in　her　eighth　year；　she　had　learnt　all　kinds　of　useful　things　from　her　grandfather；　she　knew　how　to　look　after　the　goats　as　well　as　any　one；　and　Little　Swan　and　Bear　would　follow　her　like　two　faithful　dogs；　and　give　a　loud　bleat　of　pleasure　when　they　heard　her　voice。　Twice　during　the　course　of　this　last　winter　Peter　had　brought　up　a　message　from　the　schoolmaster　at　Dorfli；　who　sent　word　to　Alm…Uncle　that　he　ought　to　send　Heidi　to　school；　as　she　was　over　the　usual　age；　and　ought　indeed　to　have　gone　the　winter　before。　Uncle　had　sent　word　back　each　time　that　the　schoolmaster　would　find　him　at　home　if　he　had　anything　he　wished　to　say　to　him；　but　that　he　did　not　intend　to　send　Heidi　to　school；　and　Peter　had　faithfully　delivered　his　message。

When　the　March　sun　had　melted　the　snow　on　the　mountain　side　and　the　snowdrops　were　peeping　out　all　over　the　valley；　and　the　fir　trees　had　shaken　off　their　burden　of　snow　and　were　again　merrily　waving　their　branches　in　the　air；　Heidi　ran　backwards　and　forwards　with　delight　first　to　the　goat…shed　then　to　the　fir…trees；　and　then　to　the　hut…door；　in　order　to　let　her　grandfather　know　how　much　larger　a　piece　of　green　there　was　under　the　trees；　and　then　would　run　off　to　look　again；　for　she　could　hardly　wait　till　everything　was　green　and　the　full　beautiful　summer　had　clothed　the　mountain　with　grass　and　flowers。　As　Heidi　was　thus　running　about　one　sunny　March　morning；　and　had　just　jumped　over　the　water…trough　for　the　tenth　time　at　least；　she　nearly　fell　backwards　into　it　with　fright；　for　there　in　front　of　her；　looking　gravely　at　her；　stood　an　old　gentleman　dressed　in　black。　When　he　saw　how　startled　she　was；　he　said　in　a　kind　voice；　〃Don't　be　afraid　of　me；　for　I　am　very　fond　of　children。　Shake　hands！　You　must　be　the　Heidi　I　have　heard　of；　where　is　your　grandfather？〃

〃He　is　sitting　by　the　table；　making　round　wooden　spoons；〃　Heidi　informed　him；　as　she　opened　the　door。

He　was　the　old　village　pastor　from　Dorfli　who　had　been　a　neighbor　of　Uncle's　when　he　lived　down　there；　and　had　known　him　well。　He　stepped　inside　the　hut；　and　going　up　to　the　old　man；　who　was　bending　over　his　work；　said；　〃Good…morning；　neighbor。〃

The　grandfather　looked　up　in　surprise；　and　then　rising　said；　〃Good…morning〃　in　return。　He　pushed　his　chair　towards　the　visitor　as　he　continued；　〃If　you　do　not　mind　a　wooden　seat　there　is　one　for　you。〃

The　pastor　sat　down。　〃It　is　a　long　time　since　I　have　seen　you；　neighbor；〃　he　said。

〃Or　I　you；〃　was　the　answer。

〃I　have　come　to…day　to　talk　over　something　with　you；〃　continued　the　pastor。　〃I　think　you　know　already　what　it　is　that　has　brought　me　here；〃　and　as　he　spoke　he　looked　towards　the　child　who　was　standing　at　the　door；　gazing　with　interest　and　surprise　at　the　stranger。

〃Heidi；　go　off　to　the　goats；〃　said　her　grandfather。　You　take　them　a　little　salt　and　stay　with　them　till　I　come。〃

Heidi　vanished　on　the　spot。

〃The　child　ought　to　have　been　at　school　a　year　ago；　and　most　certainly　this　last　winter；〃　said　the　pastor。　〃The　schoolmaster　sent　you　word　about　it；　but　you　gave　him　no　answer。　What　are　you　thinking　of　doing　with　the　child；　neighbor？〃

〃I　am　thinking　of　not　sending　her　to　school；〃　was　the　answer。

The　visitor；　surprised；　looked　across　at　the　old　man；　who　was　sitting　on　his　bench　with　his　arms　crossed　and　a　determined　expression　about　his　whole　person。

〃How　are　you　going　to　let　her　grow　up　then？〃　he　asked。

〃I　am　going　to　let　her　grow　up　and　be　happy　among　the　goats　and　birds；　with　them　she　is　safe；　and　will　learn　nothing　evil。〃

〃But　the　child　is　not　a　goat　or　a　bird；　she　is　a　human　being。　If　she　learns　no　evil　from　these　comrades　of　hers；　she　will　at　the　same　time　learn　nothing；　but　she　ought　not　to　grow　up　in　ignorance；　and　it　is　time　she　began　her　lessons。　I　have　come　now　that　you　may　have　leisure　to　think　over　it；　and　to　arrange　about　it　during　the　summer。　This　is　the　last　winter　that　she　must　be　allowed　to　run　wild；　next　winter　she　must　come　regularly　to　school　every　day。〃

〃She　will　do　no　such　thing；〃　said　the　old　man　with　calm　determination。

〃Do　you　mean　that　by　no　persuasion　can　you　be　brought　to　see　reason；　and　that　you　intend　to　stick　obstinately　to　your　decision？〃　said　the　pastor；　growing　somewhat　angry。　〃You　have　been　about　the　world；　and　must　have　seen　and　learnt　much；　and　I　should　have　given　you　credit　for　more　sense；　neighbor。〃

〃Indeed；〃　replied　the　old　man；　and　there　was　a　tone　in　his　voice　that　betrayed　a　growing　irritation　on　his　part　too；　〃and　does　the　worthy　pastor　really　mean　that　he　would　wish　me　next　winter　to　send　a　young　child　like　that　some　miles　down　the　mountain　on　ice…cold　mornings　through　storm　and　snow；　and　let　her　return　at　night　when　the　wind　is　raging；　when　even　one　like　ourselves　would　run　a　risk　of　being　blown　down　by　it　and　buried　in　the　snow？　And　perhaps　he　may　not　have　forgotten　the　child's　mother；　Adelaide？　She　was　a　sleep…walker；　and　had　fits。　Might　not　the　child　be　attacked　in　the　same　way　if　obliged　to　over…exert　herself？　And　some　one　thinks　they　can　come　and　force　me　to　send　her？　I　will　go　before　all　the　courts　of　justice　in　the　country；　and　then　we　shall　see　who　will　force　me　to　do　it！〃

〃You　are　quite　right；　neighbor；〃　said　the　pastor　in　a　friendly　tone　of　voice。　〃I　see　it　would　have　been　impossible　to　send　the　child　to　school　from　here。　But　I　perceive　that　the　child　is　dear　to　you；　for　her　sake　do　what　you　ought　to　have　done　long　ago：　come　down　into　Dorfli　and　live　again　among　your　fellowmen。　What　sort　of　a　life　is　this　you　lead；　alone；　and　with　bitter　thoughts　towards　God　and　man！　If　anything　were　to　happen　to　you　up　here　who　would　there　be　to　help　you？　I　cannot　think　but　what　you　must　be　half…frozen　to　death　in　this　hut　in　the　winter；　and　I　do　not　know　how　the　child　lives　through　it！〃

〃The　child　has　young　blood　in　her　veins　and　a　good　roof　over　her　head；　and　let　me　further　tell　the　pastor；　that　I　know　where　wood　is　to　be　found；　and　when　is　the　proper　time　to　fetch　it；　the　pastor　can　go　and　look　inside　my　wood…shed；　the　fire　is　never　out　in　my　hut　the　whole　winter　through。　As　to　going　to　live　below　that　is　far　from　my　thoughts；　the　people　despise　me　and　I　them；　it　is　therefore　best　for　all　of　us　that　we　live　apart。〃

〃No；　no；　it　is　not　best　for　you；　I　know　what　it　is　you　lack；〃　said　the　pastor　in　an　earnest　voice。　〃As　to　the　people　down　there　looking　on　you　with　dislike；　it　is　not　as　bad　as　you　think。　Believe　me；　neighbor；　seek　to　make　your　peace　with　God；　pray　for　forgiveness　where　you　need　it；　and　then　come　and　see　how　differently　people　will　look　upon　you；　and　how　happy　you　may　yet　be。〃

The　pastor　had　risen　and　stood　holding　out　his　hand　to　the　old　man　as　he　added　with　renewed　earnestness；　〃I　will　wager；　neighbor；　that　next　winter　you　will　be　down　among　us　again；　and　we　shall　be　good　neighbors　as　of　old。　I　should　be　very　grieved　if　any　pressure　had　to　be　put　upon　you；　give　me　your　hand　and　promise　me　that　you　will　come　and　live　with　us　again　and　become　reconciled　to　God　and　man。〃

Alm…Uncle　gave　the　pastor　his　hand　and　answered　him　calmly　and　firmly；　〃You　mean　well　by　me　I　know；　but　as　to　that　which　you　wish　me　to　do；　I　say　now　what　I　shall　continue　to　say；　that　I　will　not　send　the　child　to　school　nor　come　and　live　among　you。〃

〃Then　God　help　you！〃　said　the　pastor；　and　he　turned　sadly　away　and　left　the　hut　and　went　down　the　mountain。

Alm…Uncle　was　out　of　humor。　When　Heidi　said　as　usual　that　afternoon；　〃Can　we　go　down　to　grandmother　now？〃　he　answered；　〃Not　to…day。〃　He　did　not　speak　again　the　whole　of　that　day；　and　the　following　morning　when　Heidi　again　asked　the　same　question；　he　replied；　〃We　will　see。〃　But　before　the　dinner　bowls　had　been　cleared　away　another　visitor　arrived；　and　this　time　it　was　Cousin　Dete。　She　had　a　fine　feathered　hat　on　her　head；　and　a　long　trailing　skirt　to　her　dress　which　swept　the　floor；　and　on　the　floor　of　a　goatherd's　hut　there　are　all　sorts　of　things　that　do　not　belong　to　a　dress。

The　grandfather　looked　her　up　and　down　without　utterin