heidi-第37章

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The　old　man　and　Heidi　promised　her　faithfully　to　do　so；　then　it　was　time　to　break　up　the　party；　and　these　two　went　back　up　the　mountain。　As　they　had　been　greeted　with　bells　when　they　made　their　journey　down　in　the　morning；　so　now　they　were　accompanied　by　the　peaceful　evening　chimes　as　they　climbed　to　the　hut；　which　had　quite　a　Sunday…like　appearance　as　it　stood　bathed　in　the　light　of　the　low　evening　sun。

But　when　grandmamma　comes　next　autumn　there　will　be　many　fresh　joys　and　surprises　both　for　Heidi　and　grandmother；　without　doubt　a　proper　bed　will　be　put　up　in　the　hay…loft；　for　wherever　grandmamma　steps　in；　there　everything　is　soon　in　right　order；　outside　and　in。



CHAPTER　XV。　PREPARATIONS　FOR　A　JOURNEY

The　kind　doctor　who　had　given　the　order　that　Heidi　was　to　be　sent　home　was　walking　along　one　of　the　broad　streets　towards　Herr　Sesemann's　house。　It　was　a　sunny　September　morning；　so　full　of　light　and　sweetness　that　it　seemed　as　if　everybody　must　rejoice。　But　the　doctor　walked　with　his　eyes　fastened　to　the　ground　and　did　not　once　lift　them　to　the　blue　sky　above　him。　There　was　an　expression　of　sadness　on　his　face；　formerly　so　cheerful；　and　his　hair　had　grown　greyer　since　the　spring。　The　doctor　had　had　an　only　daughter；　who；　after　his　wife's　death；　had　been　his　sole　and　constant　companion；　but　only　a　few　months　previously　death　had　deprived　him　of　his　dear　child；　and　he　had　never　been　the　same　bright　and　cheery　man　since。

Sebastian　opened　the　door　to　him；　greeting　him　with　every　mark　of　respectful　civility；　for　the　doctor　was　not　only　the　most　cherished　friend　of　the　master　and　his　daughter；　but　had　by　his　kindness　won　the　hearts　of　the　whole　household。

〃Everything　as　usual；　Sebastian？〃　asked　the　doctor　in　his　pleasant　voice　as　he　preceded　Sebastian　up　the　stairs。

〃I　am　glad　you　have　come；　doctor；〃　exclaimed　Herr　Sesemann　as　the　latter　entered。　〃We　must　really　have　another　talk　over　this　Swiss　journey；　do　you　still　adhere　to　your　decision；　even　though　Clara　is　decidedly　improving　in　health？〃

〃My　dear　Sesemann；　I　never　knew　such　a　man　as　you！〃　said　the　doctor　as　he　sat　down　beside　his　friend。　〃I　really　wish　your　mother　was　here；　everything　would　be　clear　and　straightforward　then　and　she　would　soon　put　things　in　right　train。　You　sent　for　me　three　times　yesterday　only　to　ask　me　the　same　question；　though　you　know　what　I　think。〃

〃Yes；　I　know；　it's　enough　to　make　you　out　of　patience　with　me；　but　you　must　understand；　dear　friend〃and　Herr　Sesemann　laid　his　hand　imploringly　on　the　doctor's　shoulder〃that　I　feel　I　have　not　the　courage　to　refuse　the　child　what　I　have　been　promising　her　all　along；　and　for　months　now　she　has　been　living　on　the　thought　of　it　day　and　night。　She　bore　this　last　bad　attack　so　patiently　because　she　was　buoyed　up　with　the　hope　that　she　should　soon　start　on　her　Swiss　journey；　and　see　her　friend　Heidi　again；　and　now　must　I　tell　the　poor　child；　who　has　to　give　up　so　many　pleasures；　that　this　visit　she　has　so　long　looked　forward　to　must　also　be　cancelled？　I　really　have　not　the　courage　to　do　it。〃

〃You　must　make　up　your　mind　to　it；　Sesemann；〃　said　the　doctor　with　authority；　and　as　his　friend　continued　silent　and　dejected　he　went　on　after　a　pause；　〃Consider　yourself　how　the　matter　stands。　Clara　has　not　had　such　a　bad　summer　as　this　last　one　for　years。　Only　the　worst　results　would　follow　from　the　fatigue　of　such　a　journey；　and　it　is　out　of　the　question　for　her。　And　then　we　are　already　in　September；　and　although　it　may　still　be　warm　and　fine　up　there；　it　may　just　as　likely　be　already　very　cold。　The　days　too　are　growing　short；　and　as　Clara　cannot　spend　the　night　up　there　she　would　only　have　a　two　hours'　visit　at　the　outside。　The　journey　from　Ragatz　would　take　hours；　for　she　would　have　to　be　carried　up　the　mountain　in　a　chair。　In　short；　Sesemann；　it　is　impossible。　But　I　will　go　in　with　you　and　talk　to　Clara；　she　is　a　reasonable　child；　and　I　will　tell　her　what　my　plans　are。　Next　May　she　shall　be　taken　to　the　baths　and　stay　there　for　the　cure　until　it　is　quite　hot　weather。　Then　she　can　be　carried　up　the　mountain　from　time　to　time；　and　when　she　is　stronger　she　will　enjoy　these　excursions　far　more　than　she　would　now。　Understand；　Sesemann；　that　if　we　want　to　give　the　child　a　chance　of　recovery　we　must　use　the　utmost　care　and　watchfulness。〃

Herr　Sesemann；　who　had　listened　to　the　doctor　in　sad　and　submissive　silence；　now　suddenly　jumped　up。　〃Doctor；〃　he　said；　〃tell　me　truly：　have　you　really　any　hope　of　her　final　recovery？〃

The　doctor　shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃Very　little；〃　he　replied　quietly。　〃But；　friend；　think　of　my　trouble。　You　have　still　a　beloved　child　to　look　for　you　and　greet　you　on　your　return　home。　You　do　not　come　back　to　an　empty　house　and　sit　down　to　a　solitary　meal。　And　the　child　is　happy　and　comfortable　at　home　too。　If　there　is　much　that　she　has　to　give　up；　she　has　on　the　other　hand　many　advantages。　No；　Sesemann；　you　are　not　so　greatly　to　be　pitiedyou　have　still　the　happiness　of　being　together。　Think　of　my　lonely　house！〃

Herr　Sesemann　was　now　striding　up　and　down　the　room　as　was　his　habit　when　deeply　engaged　in　thought。　Suddenly　he　came　to　a　pause　beside　his　friend　and　laid　his　hand　on　his　shoulder。　〃Doctor；　I　have　an　idea；　I　cannot　bear　to　see　you　look　as　you　do；　you　are　no　longer　the　same　man。　You　must　be　taken　out　of　yourself　for　a　while；　and　what　do　you　think　I　propose？　That　you　shall　take　the　journey　and　go　and　pay　Heidi　a　visit　in　our　name。〃

The　doctor　was　taken　aback　at　this　sudden　proposal　and　wanted　to　make　objections；　but　his　friend　gave　him　no　time　to　say　anything。　He　was　so　delighted　with　his　idea；　that　he　seized　the　doctor　by　the　arm　and　drew　him　into　Clara's　room。　The　kind　doctor　was　always　a　welcome　visitor　to　Clara；　for　he　generally　had　something　amusing　to　tell　her。　Lately；　it　is　true；　he　had　been　graver；　but　Clara　knew　the　reason　why　and　would　have　given　much　to　see　him　his　old　lively　self　again。　She　held　out　her　hand　to　him　as　he　came　up　to　her；　he　took　a　seat　beside　her；　and　her　father　also　drew　up　his　chair；　and　taking　Clara's　hand　in　his　began　to　talk　to　her　of　the　Swiss　journey　and　how　he　himself　had　looked　forward　to　it。　He　passed　as　quickly　as　he　could　over　the　main　point　that　it　was　now　impossible　for　her　to　undertake　it；　for　he　dreaded　the　tears　that　would　follow；　but　he　went　on　without　pause　to　tell　her　of　his　new　plan；　and　dwelt　on　the　great　benefit　it　would　be　to　his　friend　if　he　could　be　persuaded　to　take　this　holiday。

The　tears　were　indeed　swimming　in　the　blue　eyes；　although　Clara　struggled　to　keep　them　down　for　her　father's　sake；　but　it　was　a　bitter　disappointment　to　give　up　the　journey；　the　thought　of　which　had　been　her　only　joy　and　solace　during　the　lonely　hours　of　her　long　illness。　She　knew；　however；　that　her　father　would　never　refuse　her　a　thing　unless　he　was　certain　that　it　would　be　harmful　for　her。　So　she　swallowed　her　tears　as　well　as　she　could　and　turned　her　thoughts　to　the　one　hope　still　left　her。　Taking　the　doctor's　hand　and　stroking　it；　she　said　pleadingly；

〃Dear　doctor；　you　will　go　and　see　Heidi；　won't　you？　and　then　you　can　come　and　tell　me　all　about　it；　what　it　is　like　up　there；　and　what　Heidi　and　the　grandfather；　and　Peter　and　the　goats　do　all　day。　I　know　them　all　so　well！　And　then　you　can　take　what　I　want　to　send　to　Heidi；　I　have　thought　about　it　all；　and　also　something　for　the　grandmother。　Do　pray　go；　dear　doctor；　and　I　will　take　as　much　cod　liver　oil　as　you　like。〃

Whether　this　promise　finally　decided　the　doctor　it　is　impossible　to　say；　but　it　is　certain　that　he　smiled　and　said；

〃Then　I　must　certainly　go；　Clara；　for　you　will　then　get　as　plump　and　strong　as　your　father　and　I　wish　to　see　you。　And　have　you　decided　when　I　am　to　start？〃

〃To…morrow　morningearly　if　possible；〃　replied　Clara。

〃Yes；　she　is　right；〃　put　in　Herr　Sesemann；　〃the　sun　is　shining　and　the　sky　is　blue；　and　there　is　no　time　to　be　lost；　it　is　a　pity　to　miss　a　single　one　of　these　days　on　the　mountain。〃

The　doctor　could　not　help　laughing。　〃You　will　be　reproaching　me　next　for　not　being　there　already；　well；　I　must　go　and　make　arrangements　for　getting　off。〃

But　Clara　would　not　let　him　go　until　she　had　given　him　endless　messages　for　Heidi；　and　had　explained　all