heidi-第21章
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Sebastian pulled the boy away； the latter having quickly caught up the tortoise； and when he had got him outside he put something into his hand。 〃There is the fourpence from Miss Clara； and another fourpence for the music。 You did it all quite right！〃 and with that he shut the front door upon him。
Quietness reigned again in the study； and lessons began once more； Fraulein Rottenmeier now took up her station in the study in order by her presence to prevent any further dreadful goings…on。
But soon another knock came to the door； and Sebastian again stepped in； this time to say that some one had brought a large basket with orders that it was to be given at once to Miss Clara。
〃For me？〃 said Clara in astonishment； her curiosity very much excited； 〃bring it in at once that I may see what it is like。〃
Sebastian carried in a large covered basket and retired。
〃I think the lessons had better be finished first before the basket is unpacked；〃 said Fraulein Rottenmeier。
Clara could not conceive what was in it； and cast longing glances towards it。 In the middle of one of her declensions she suddenly broke off and said to the tutor； 〃Mayn't I just give one peep inside to see what is in it before I go on？〃
〃On some considerations I am for it； on others against it；〃 he began in answer； 〃for it； on the ground that if your whole attention is directed to the basket〃 but the speech remained unfinished。 The cover of the basket was loose； and at this moment one； two； three； and then two more； and again more kittens came suddenly tumbling on to the floor and racing about the room in every direction； and with such indescribable rapidity that it seemed as if the whole room was full of them。 They jumped over the tutor's boots； bit at his trousers； climbed up Fraulein Rottenmeier's dress； rolled about her feet； sprang up on to Clara's couch； scratching； scrambling； and mewing： it was a sad scene of confusion。 Clara； meanwhile； pleased with their gambols； kept on exclaiming； 〃Oh； the dear little things！ how pretty they are！ Look； Heidi； at this one； look； look； at that one over there！〃 And Heidi in her delight kept running after them first into one corner and then into the other。 The tutor stood up by the table not knowing what to do； lifting first his right foot and then his left to get it away from the scrambling； scratching kittens。 Fraulein Rottenmeier was unable at first to speak at all； so overcome was she with horror； and she did not dare rise from her chair for fear that all the dreadful little animals should jump upon her at once。 At last she found voice to call loudly； Tinette！ Tinette！ Sebastian！ Sebastian！〃
They came in answer to her summons and gathered up the kittens； by degrees they got them all inside the basket again and then carried them off to put with the other two。
To…day again there had been no opportunity for gaping。 Late that evening； when Fraulein Rottenmeier had somewhat recovered from the excitement of the morning； she sent for the two servants； and examined their closely concerning the events of the morning。 And then it came out that Heidi was at the bottom of them； everything being the result of her excursion of the day before。 Fraulein Rottenmeier sat pale with indignation and did not know at first how to express her anger。 Then she made a sign to Tinette and Sebastian to withdraw； and turning to Heidi； who was standing by Clara's couch； quite unable to understand of what sin she had been guilty； began in a severe voice；
〃Adelaide； I know of only one punishment which will perhaps make you alive to your ill conduct； for you are an utter little barbarian； but we will see if we cannot tame you so that you shall not be guilty of such deeds again； by putting you in a dark cellar with the rats and black beetles。〃
Heidi listened in silence and surprise to her sentence； for she had never seen a cellar such as was now described； the place known at her grandfather's as the cellar； where the fresh made cheeses and the new milk were kept； was a pleasant and inviting place； neither did she know at all what rats and black beetles were like。
But now Clara interrupted in great distress。 〃No； no； Fraulein Rottenmeier； you must wait till papa comes； he has written to say that he will soon be home； and then I will tell him everything； and he will say what is to be done with Heidi。〃
Fraulein Rottenmeier could not do anything against this superior authority； especially as the father was really expected very shortly。 She rose and said with some displeasure； 〃As you will； Clara； but I too shall have something to say to Herr Sesemann。〃 And with that she left the room。
Two days now went by without further disturbance。 Fraulein Rottenmeier； however； could not recover her equanimity； she was perpetually reminded by Heidi's presence of the deception that had been played upon her； and it seemed to her that ever since the child had come into the house everything had been topsy…turvy； and she could not bring things into proper order again。 Clara had grown much more cheerful； she no longer found time hang heavy during the lesson hours； for Heidi was continually making a diversion of some kind or other。 She jumbled all her letters up together and seemed quite unable to learn them； and when the tutor tried to draw her attention to their different shapes； and to help her by showing her that this was like a little horn； or that like a bird's bill； she would suddenly exclaim in a joyful voice； 〃That is a goat！〃 〃That is a bird of prey！〃 For the tutor's descriptions suggested all kinds of pictures to her mind； but left her still incapable of the alphabet。 In the later afternoons Heidi always sat with Clara； and then she would give the latter many and long descriptions of the mountain and of her life upon it； and the burning longing to return would become so overpowering that she always finished with the words； 〃Now I must go home！ to…morrow I must really go！〃 But Clara would try to quiet her； and tell Heidi that she must wait till her father returned； and then they would see what was to be done。 And if Heidi gave in each time and seemed quickly to regain her good spirits； it was because of a secret delight she had in the thought that every day added two more white rolls to the number she was collecting for grandmother； for she always pocketed the roll placed beside her plate at dinner and supper； feeling that she could not bear to eat them； knowing that grandmother had no white bread and could hardly eat the black bread which was so hard。 After dinner Heidi had to sit alone in her room for a couple of hours； for she understood now that she might not run about outside at Frankfurt as she did on the mountain； and so she did not attempt it。 Any conversation with Sebastian in the dining…room was also forbidden her； and as to Tinette； she kept out of her way； and never thought of speaking to her； for Heidi was quite aware that the maid looked scornfully at her and always spoke to her in a mocking voice。 So Heidi had plenty of time from day to day to sit and picture how everything at home was now turning green； and how the yellow flowers were shining in the sun； and how all around lay bright in the warm sunshine； the snow and the rocks； and the whole wide valley； and Heidi at times could hardly contain herself for the longing to be back home again。 And Dete had told her that she could go home whenever she liked。 So it came about one day that Heidi felt she could not bear it any longer； and in haste she tied all the rolls up in her red shawl； put on her straw hat； and went downstairs。 But just as she reached the hall…door she met Fraulein Rottenmeier herself； just returning from a walk； which put a stop to Heidi's journey。
Fraulein Rottenmeier stood still a moment； looking at her from top to toe in blank astonishment； her eye resting particularly on the red bundle。 Then she broke out；
〃What have you dressed yourself like that for？ What do you mean by this？ Have I not strictly forbidden you to go running about in the streets？ And here you are ready to start off again； and going out looking like a beggar。〃
〃I was not going to run about； I was going home；〃 said Heidi； frightened。
〃What are you talking about！ Going home！ You
