heidi-第36章
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or; watching to see whether Alm…Uncle came out looking angry and quarrelsome; or as if the interview had been a peaceful one; for they could not imagine what had brought the old man down; and what it all meant。 Some; however; adopted a new tone and expressed their opinion that Alm…Uncle was not so bad after all as they thought; 〃for see how carefully he took the little one by the hand。〃 And others responded and said they had always thought people had exaggerated about him; that if he was so downright bad he would be afraid to go inside the pastor's house。 Then the miller put in his word; 〃Did I not tell you so from the first? What child is there who would run away from where she had plenty to eat and drink and everything of the best; home to a grandfather who was cruel and unkind; and of whom she was afraid?〃
And so everybody began to feel quite friendly towards Alm…Uncle; and the women now came up and related all they had been told by Peter and his grandmother; and finally they all stood there like people waiting for an old friend whom they had long missed from among their number。
Meanwhile Alm…Uncle had gone into the pastor's house and knocked at the study door。 The latter came out and greeted him; not as if he was surprised to see him; but as if he had quite expected to see him there; he probably had caught sight of the old man in church。 He shook hands warmly with him; and Alm…Uncle was unable at first to speak; for he had not expected such a friendly reception。 At last he collected himself and said; 〃I have come to ask you; pastor; to forget the words I spoke to you when you called on me; and to beg you not to owe me ill…will for having been so obstinately set against your well…meant advice。 You were right; and I was wrong; but I have now made up my mind to follow your advice and to find a place for myself at Dorfli for the winter; for the child is not strong enough to stand the bitter cold up on the mountain。 And if the people down here look askance at me; as at a person not to be trusted; I know it is my own fault; and you will; I am sure; not do so。〃
The pastor's kindly eyes shone with pleasure。 He pressed the old man's hand in his; and said with emotion; 〃Neighbor; you went into the right church before you came to mine; I am greatly rejoiced。 You will not repent coming to live with us again; as for myself you will always be welcome as a dear friend and neighbor; and I look forward to our spending many a pleasant winter evening together; for I shall prize your companionship; and we will find some; nice friends too for the little one。〃 And the pastor laid his hand kindly on the child's curly head and took her by the hand as he walked to the door with the old man。 He did not say good…bye to him till they were standing outside; so that all the people standing about saw him shake hands as if parting reluctantly from his best friend。 The door had hardly shut behind him before the whole congregation now came forward to greet Alm…Uncle; every one striving to be the first to shake hands with him; and so many were held out that Alm…Uncle did not know with which to begin; and some said; 〃We are so pleased to see you among us again;〃 and another; 〃I have long been wishing we could have a talk together again;〃 and greetings of all kinds echoed from every side; and when Alm…Uncle told them he was thinking of returning to his old quarters in Dorfli for the winter; there was such a general chorus of pleasure that any one would have thought he was the most beloved person in all Dorfli; and that they had hardly known how to live without him。 Most of his friends accompanied him and Heidi some way up the mountain; and each as they bid him good…bye made him promise that when he next came down he would without fail come and call。 As the old man at last stood alone with the child; watching their retreating figures; there was a light upon his face as if reflected from some inner sunshine of heart。 Heidi; looking up at him with her clear steady eyes; said; 〃Grandfather; you look nicer and nicer to…day; I never saw you quite like that before。〃
〃Do you think so?〃 he answered with a smile。 〃Well; yes; Heidi; I am happier to…day than I deserve; happier than I had thought possible; it is good to be at peace with God and man! God was good to me when He sent you to my hut。〃
When they reached Peter's home the grandfather opened the door and walked straight in。 〃Good…morning; grandmother;〃 he said。 〃I think we shall have to do some more patching; up before the autumn winds come。〃
〃Dear God; if it is not Uncle!〃 cried the grandmother in pleased surprise。 〃That I should live to see such a thing! and now I can thank you for all that you have done for me。 May God reward you! may God reward you!〃 She stretched out a trembling hand to him; and when the grandfather shook it warmly; she went on; still holding his; 〃And I have something on my heart I want to say; a prayer to make to you! If I have injured you in any way; do not punish me by sending the child away again before I lie under the grass。 Oh; you do not know what that child is to me!〃 and she clasped the child to her; for Heidi had already taken her usual stand close to the grandmother。
〃Have no fear; grandmother;〃 said Uncle in a reassuring voice; 〃I shall not punish either you or myself by doing so。 We are all together now; and pray God we may continue so for long。〃
Brigitta now drew the Uncle aside towards a corner of the room and showed him the hat with the feathers; explaining to him how it came there; and adding that of course she could not take such a thing from a child。
But the grandfather looked towards Heidi without any displeasure of countenance and said; 〃The hat is hers; and if she does not wish to wear it any more she has a right to say so and to give it to you; so take it; pray。〃
Brigitta was highly delighted at this。 〃It is well worth more than ten shillings!〃 she said as she held it up for further admiration。 〃And what a blessing Heidi has brought home with her from Frankfurt! I have thought sometimes that it might be good to send Peter there for a little while; what do you think; Uncle?〃
A merry look came into the grandfather's eye。 He thought it would do Peter no harm; but he had better wait for a good opportunity before starting。 At this moment the subject of their conversation himself rushed in; evidently in a great hurry; knocking his head violently against the door in his haste; so that everything in the room rattled。 Gasping and breathless he stood still after this and held out a letter。 This was another great event; for such a thing had never happened before; the letter was addressed to Heidi and had been delivered at the post…office in Dorfli。 They all sat down round the table to hear what was in it; for Heidi opened it at once and read it without hesitation。 The letter was from Clara。 The latter wrote that the house had been so dull since Heidi left that she did not know how to bear herself; and she had at last persuaded her father to take her to the baths at Ragatz in the coming autumn; grandmamma had arranged to join them there; and they both were looking forward to paying her and her grandfather a visit。 And grandmamma sent a further message to Heidi which was that the latter had done quite right to take the rolls to the grandmother; and so that she might not have to eat them dry; she was sending some coffee; which was already on its way; and grandmamma hoped when she came to the Alm in the autumn that Heidi would take her to see her old friend。
There were exclamations of pleasure and astonishment on hearing all this news; and so much to talk and ask about that even the grandfather did not notice how the time was passing; there was general delight at the thought of the coming days; and even more at the meeting which had taken place on this one; and the grandmother spoke and said; 〃The happiest of all things is when an old friend comes and greets us as in former times; the heart is comforted with the assurance that some day everything that we have loved will be given back to us。You will come soon again; uncle; and you child; to…morrow?〃
The old man and Heidi promised her faithfully to do so; then it was time to break up the party; and these