heidi-第31章

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〃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　Sesemann　went　off　to　his　study　to　write　a　letter　to　Alm…Uncle。　Sebastian　remained　standing；　feeling　rather　foolish。

If　only　I　had　not　let　that　fool　of　a　John　drag　me　back　into　the　room；　and　had　gone　after　the　little　white　figure；　which　I　should　do　certainly　if　I　saw　it　now！〃　he　kept　on　saying　to　himself；　but　just　now　every　corner　of　the　room　was　clearly　visible　in　the　daylight。

Meanwhile　Heidi　was　standing　expectantly　dressed　in　her　Sunday　frock　waiting　to　see　what　would　happen　next；　for　Tinette　had　only　woke　her　up　with　a　shake　and　put　on　her　clothes　without　a　word　of　explanation。　The　little　uneducated　child　was　far　too　much　beneath　her　for　Tinette　to　speak　to。

Herr　Sesemann　went　back　to　the　dining…room　with　the　letter；　breakfast　was　now　ready；　and　he　asked；　〃Where　is　the　child？〃

Heidi　was　fetched；　and　as　she　walked　up　to　him　to　say　〃Good…morning；〃　he　looked　inquiringly　into　her　face　and　said；　〃Well；　what　do　you　say　to　this；　little　one？〃

Heidi　looked　at　him　in　perplexity。

〃Why；　you　don't　know　anything　about　it；　I　see；〃　laughed　Herr　Sesemann。　〃You　are　going　home　today；　going　at　once。〃

〃Home；〃　murmured　Heidi　in　a　low　voice；　turning　pale；　she　was　so　overcome　that　for　a　moment　or　two　she　could　hardly　breathe。

〃Don't　you　want　to　hear　more　about　it？〃

〃Oh；　yes；　yes！〃　exclaimed　Heidi；　her　face　now　rosy　with　delight。

〃All　right；　then；〃　said　Herr　Sesemann　as　he　sat　down　and　made　her　a　sign　to　do　the　same；　〃but　now　make　a　good　breakfast；　and　then　off　you　go　in　the　carriage。〃

But　Heidi　could　not　swallow　a　morsel　though　she　tried　to　do　what　she　was　told；　she　was　in　such　a　state　of　excitement　that　she　hardly　knew　if　she　was　awake　or　dreaming；　or　if　she　would　again　open　her　eyes　to　find　herself　in　her　nightgown　at　the　front　door。

〃Tell　Sebastian　to　take　plenty　of　provisions　with　him；〃　Herr　Sesemann　called　out　to　Fraulein　Rottenmeier；　who　just　then　came　into　the　room；　〃the　child　can't　eat　anything　now；　which　is　quite　natural。　Now　run　up　to　Clara　and　stay　with　her　till　the　carriage　comes　round；〃　he　added　kindly；　turning　to　Heidi。

Heidi　had　been　longing　for　this；　and　ran　quickly　upstairs。　An　immense　trunk　was　standing　open　in　the　middle　of　the　room。

〃Come　along；　Heidi；〃　cried　Clara；　as　she　entered；　〃see　all　the　things　I　have　had　put　in　for　youaren't　you　pleased？〃

And　she　ran　over　a　list　of　things；　dresses　and　aprons　and　handkerchiefs；　and　all　kinds　of　working　materials。　〃And　look　here；〃　she　added；　as　she　triumphantly　held　up　a　basket。　Heidi　peeped　in　and　jumped　for　joy；　for　inside　it　were　twelve　beautiful　round　white　rolls；　all　for　grandmother。　In　their　delight　the　children　forgot　that　the　time　had　come　for　them　to　separate；　and　when　some　one　called　out；　〃The　carriage　is　here；〃　there　was　no　time　for　grieving。

Heidi　ran　to　her　room　to　fetch　her　darling　book；　she　knew　no　one　could　have　packed　that；　as　it　lay　under　her　pillow；　for　Heidi　had　kept　it　by　her　night　and　day。　This　was　put　in　the　basket　with　the　rolls。　Then　she　opened　her　wardrobe　to　look　for　another　treasure；　which　perhaps　no　one　would　have　thought　of　packingand　she　was　rightthe　old　red　shawl　had　been　left　behind；　Fraulein。　Rottenmeier　not　considering　it　worth　putting　in　with　the　other　things。　Heidi　wrapped　it　round　something　else　which　she　laid　on　the　top　of　the　basket；　so　that　the　red　package　was　quite　conspicuous。　Then　she　put　on　her　pretty　hat　and　left　the　room。　The　children　could　not　spend　much　time　over　their　farewells；　for　Herr　Sesemann　was　waiting　to　put　Heidi　in　the　carriage。　Fraulein　Rottenmeier　was　waiting　at　the　top　of　the　stairs　to　say　good…bye　to　her。　When　she　caught　sight　of　the　strange　little　red　bundle；　she　took　it　out　of　the　basket　and　threw　it　on　the　ground。　〃No；　no；　Adelaide；〃　she　exclaimed；　〃you　cannot　leave　the　house　with　that　thing。　What　can　you　possibly　want　with　it！〃　And　then　she　said　good…bye　to　the　child。　Heidi　did　not　dare　take　up　her　little　bundle；　but　she　gave　the　master　of　the　house　an　imploring　look；　as　if　her　greatest　treasure　had　been　taken　from　her。

〃No；　no；〃　said　Herr　Sesemann　in　a　very　decided　voice；　〃the　child　shall　take　home　with　her　whatever　she　likes；　kittens　and　tortoises；　if　it　pleases　her；　we　need　not　put　ourselves　out　about　that；　Fraulein　Rottenmeier。〃

Heidi　quickly　picked　up　her　bundle；　with　a　look　of　joy　and　gratitude。　As　she　stood　by　the　carriage　door；　Herr　Sesemann　gave　her　his　hand　and　said　he　hoped　she　would　remember　him　and　Clara。　He　wished　her　a　happy　journey；　and　Heidi　thanked　him　for　all　his　kindness；　and　added；　〃And　please　say　good…bye　to　the　doctor　for　me　and　give　him　many；　many　thanks。〃　For　she　had　not　forgotten　that　he　had　said　to　her　the　night　before；　'It　will　be　all　right　to…morrow；'　and　she　rightly　divined　that　he　had　helped　to　make　it　so　for　her。　Heidi　was　now　lifted　into　the　carriage；　and　then　the　basket　and　the　provisions　were　put　in；　and　finally　Sebastian　took　his　place。　Then　Herr　Sesemann　called　out　once　more；　〃A　pleasant　journey　to　you；〃　and　the　carriage　rolled　away。

Heidi　was　soon　sitting　in　the　railway　carriage；　holding　her　basket　tightly　on　her　lap；　she　would　not　let　it　out　of　her　hands　for　a　moment；　for　it　contained　the　delicious　rolls　for　grandmother；　so　she　must　keep　it　carefully；　and　even　peep　inside　it　from　time　to　time　to　enjoy　the　sight　of　them。　For　many　hours　she　sat　as　still　as　a　mouse；　only　now　was　she　beginning　to　realize　that　she　was　going　home　to　the　grandfather；　the　mountain；　the　grandmother；　and　Peter；　and　pictures　of　all　she　was　going　to　see　again　rose　one　by　one　before　her　eyes；　she　thought　of　how　everything　would　look　at　home；　but　this　brought　other　thoughts　to　her　mind；　and　all　of　a　sudden　she　said　anxiously；　〃Sebastian；　are　you　sure　that　grandmother　on　the　mountain　is　not　dead？〃

〃No；　no；〃　said　Sebastian；　wishing　to　soothe　her；　〃we　will　hope　not；　she　is　sure　to　be　alive　still。〃

Then　Heidi　fell　back　on　her　own　thoughts　again。　Now　and　then　she　looked　inside　the　basket；　for　the　thing　she　looked　forward　to　most　was　laying　all　the　rolls　out　on　grandmother's　table。　After　a　long　silence　she　spoke　again；　〃If　only　we　could　know　for　certain　that　grandmother　is　alive！〃

〃Yes；　yes；〃　said　Sebastian；　half　asleep；　〃she　is　sure　to　be　alive；　there　is　no　reason　why　she　should　be　dead。〃

After　a　while　sleep　fell　on　Heidi　too；　and　after　her　disturbed　night　and　early　rising　she　slept　so　soundly　that　she　did　not　wake　till　Sebastian　shook　her　by　the　arm　and　called　to　her；　〃Wake　up；　wake　up！　we　shall　have　to　get　out　directly；　we　are　just　in　Basle！〃

There　was　a　further　railway　journey　of　many　hours　the　next　day。　Heidi　again　sat　with　her　basket　on　her　knee；　for　she　would　not　have　given　it　up　to　Sebastian　on　any　consideration；　to…day　she　never　even　opened　her　mouth；　for　her　excitement；　which　increased　with　every　mile　of　the　journey；　kept　her　speechless。　All　of　a　sudden；　before　Heidi　expected　it；　a　voice　called　out；　〃Mayenfeld。〃　She　and　Sebastian　both　jumped　up；　the　latter　also　taken　by　surprise。　In　another　minute　they　were　both　standing　on　the　platform　with　Heidi's　trunk；　and　the　train　was　steaming　away　down　the　valley。　Sebastian　looked　after　it　regretfully；　for　he　preferred　the　easier　mode　of　travelling　to　a　wearisome　climb　on　foot；　especially　as　there　was　danger　no　doubt　as　well　as　fatigue　in　a　country　like　this；　where；　according　to　Sebastian's　idea；　everything　and　everybody　were　half　savage。　He　therefore　looked　cautiously　to　either　side　to　see　who　was　a　likely　person　to　ask　the　safest　way　to　Dorfli。

Just　outside　the　station　he　saw　a　shabby…looking　little　cart　and　horse　which　a　broad…shouldered　man　was　loading　with　heavy　sacks　that　had　been　brought　by　the　train；　so　he　went　up　to　him　and　asked　which　was　the　safest　way　to　get　to　Dorfli。

〃All　the　roads　about　here　are　safe；〃　was　the　curt　reply。

So　Sebastian　altered　his　question　and　asked　which　was　the　best　way　to　avoid　falling　over　the　precipice；　and　also　how　a　box　could　be　conveyed　to　Dorfli。　The　man　looked　at　the　box；　weighing　it　with　his　eye；　and　then　volunteered　if　it　was　not　too　heavy　to　take　it　on　his　own　cart；　as　he　was　driving　to　Dorfli。　After　some　little　in