heidi-第30章
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to sleep； it will be all right to…morrow。〃
Then he left the room and went downstairs to Herr Sesemann； when he was once more sitting in the armchair opposite his friend； 〃Sesemann；〃 he said； 〃let me first tell you that your little charge is a sleep…walker； she is the ghost who has nightly opened the front door and put your household into this fever of alarm。 Secondly； the child is consumed with homesickness； to such an extent that she is nearly a skeleton already； and soon will be quite one； something must be done at once。 For the first trouble； due to her over…excited nerves； there is but one remedy； to send her back to her native mountain air； and for the second trouble there is also but one cure； and that the same。 So to…morrow the child must start for home； there you have my prescription。〃
Herr Sesemann had arisen and now paced up and down the room in the greatest state of concern。
〃What！〃 he exclaimed； 〃the child a sleep…walker and ill！ Home…sick； and grown emaciated in my house！ All this has taken place in my house and no one seen or known anything about it！ And you mean； doctor； that the child who came here happy and healthy； I am to send back to her grandfather a miserable little skeleton？ I can't do it； you cannot dream of my doing such a thing！ Take the child in hand； do with her what you will； and make her whole and sound； and then she shall go home； but you must do something first。〃
〃Sesemann；〃 replied the doctor； 〃consider what you are doing！ This illness of the child's is not one to be cured with pills and powders。 The child has not a tough constitution； but if you send her back at once she may recover in the mountain air； if not you would rather she went back ill than not at all？〃
Herr Sesemann stood still； the doctor's words were a shock to him。
〃If you put it so； doctor； there is assuredly only one wayand the thing must be seen to at once。〃 And then he and the doctor walked up and down for a while arranging what to do； after which the doctor said good…bye； for some time had passed since they first sat down together； and as the master himself opened the hall door this time the morning light shone down through it into the house。
CHAPTER XIII。 A SUMMER EVENING ON THE MOUNTAIN
Herr Sesemann； a good deal irritated and excited； went quickly upstairs and along the passage to Fraulein Rottenmeier's room； and there gave such an unusually loud knock at the door that the lady awoke from sleep with a cry of alarm。 She heard the master of the house calling to her from the other side of the door； 〃Please make haste and come down to me in the dining…room； we must make ready for a journey at once。〃 Fraulein Rottenmeier looked at her clock： it was just half…past four； she had never got up so early before in her life。 What could have happened？ What with her curiosity and excitement she took hold of everything the wrong way； and it was a case with her of more haste less speed； for she kept on searching everywhere for garments which she had already put on。
Meanwhile Herr Sesemann had gone on farther and rung the bells in turn which communicated with the several servants' rooms； causing frightened figures to leap out of bed； convinced that the ghost had attacked the master and that he was calling for help。 One by one they made their appearance in the dining…room； each with a more terrified face than the last； and were astonished to see their master walking up and down； looking well and cheerful； and with no appearance of having had an encounter with a ghost。 John was sent off without delay to get the horses and carriage ready； Tinette was ordered to wake Heidi and get her dressed for a journey； Sebastian was hurried off to the house where Dete was in service to bring the latter round。 Then Fraulein Rottenmeier； having at last accomplished her toilet； came down； with everything well adjusted about her except her cap； which was put on hind side before。 Herr Sesemann put down her flurried appearance to the early awakening he had caused her； and began without delay to give her directions。 She was to get out a trunk at once and pack up all the things belonging to the Swiss childfor so he usually spoke of Heidi； being unaccustomed to her nameand a good part of Clara's clothes as well； so that the child might take home proper apparel； but everything was to be done immediately； as there was no time for consideration。
Fraulein Rottenmeier stood as if rooted to the spot and stared in astonishment at Herr Sesemann。 She had quite expected a long and private account of some terrible ghostly experience of his during the night； which she would have enjoyed hearing about in the broad daylight。 Instead of this there were these prosaic and troublesome directions； which were so unexpected that she took some time to get over her surprise and disappointment； and continued standing awaiting further explanation。
But Herr Sesemann had no thought or time for explanations and left her standing there while he went to speak to Clara。 As he anticipated； the unusual commotion in the house had disturbed her； and she was lying and listening and wondering what had happened。 So he sat down and told her everything that had occurred during the past night； and explained that the doctor had given his verdict and pronounced Heidi to be in a very highly strung state； so that her nightly wanderings might gradually lead her farther and farther； perhaps even on to the roof； which of course would be very dangerous for her。 And so they had decided to send her home at once； as he did not like to take the responsibility of her remaining； and Clara would see for herself that it was the only thing to do。 Clara was very much distressed； and at first made all kinds of suggestions for keeping Heidi with her； but her father was firm； and promised her； if she would be reasonable and make no further fuss； that he would take her to Switzerland next summer。 So Clara gave in to the inevitable； only stipulating that the box might be brought into her room to be packed； so that she might add whatever she liked； and her father was only too pleased to let her provide a nice outfit for the child。 Meanwhile Dete had arrived and was waiting in the hall； wondering what extraordinary event had come to pass for her to be sent for at such an unusual hour。 Herr Sesemann informed her of the state Heidi was in； and that he wished her that very day to take her home。 Dete was greatly disappointed； for she had not expected such a piece of news。 She remembered Uncle's last words； that he never wished to set eyes on her again； and it seemed to her that to take back the child to him； after having left it with him once and then taken it away again； was not a safe or wise thing for her to do。 So she excused herself to Herr Sesemann with her usual flow of words； to…day and to…morrow it would be quite impossible for her to take the journey； and there was so much to do that she doubted if she could get off on any of the following days。 Herr Sesemann understood that she was unwilling to go at all； and so dismissed her。 Then he sent for Sebastian and told him to make ready to start： he was to travel with the child as far as Basle that day； and the next day take her home。 He would give him a letter to carry to the grandfather； which would explain everything； and he himself could come back by return。
〃But there is one thing in particular which I wish you to look after；〃 said Herr Sesemann in conclusion； 〃and be sure you attend to what I say。 I know the people of this hotel in Basle； the name of which I give you on this card。 They will see to providing rooms for the child and you。 When there； go at once into the child's room and see that the windows are all firmly fastened so that they cannot be easily opened。 After the child is in bed； lock the door of her room on the outside； for the child walks in her sleep and might run into danger in a strange house if she went wandering downstairs and tried to open the front door； so you understand？〃
〃Oh！ then that was it？〃 exclaimed Sebastian； for now a light was thrown on the ghostly visitations。
〃Yes； that was it！ and you are a coward； and you may tell John he is the same； and the whole household a pack of idiots。〃 And with this Herr Se
