heidi-第38章

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But　Clara　would　not　let　him　go　until　she　had　given　him　endless　messages　for　Heidi；　and　had　explained　all　he　was　to　look　at　so　as　to　give　her　an　exact　description　on　his　return。　Her　presents　she　would　send　round　later；　as　Fraulein　Rottenmeier　must　first　help　her　to　pack　them　up；　at　that　moment　she　was　out　on　one　of　her　excursions　into　the　town　which　always　kept　her　engaged　for　some　time。　The　doctor　promised　to　obey　Clara's　directions　in　every　particular；　he　would　start　some　time　during　the　following　day　if　not　the　first　thing　in　the　morning；　and　would　bring　back　a　faithful　account　of　his　experiences　and　of　all　he　saw　and　heard。

The　servants　of　a　household　have　a　curious　faculty　of　divining　what　is　going　on　before　they　are　actually　told　about　anything。　Sebastian　and　Tinette　must　have　possessed　this　faculty　in　a　high　degree；　for　even　as　the　doctor　was　going　downstairs；　Tinette；　who　had　been　rung　for；　entered　Clara's　room。

〃Take　that　box　and　bring　it　back　filled　with　the　soft　cakes　which　we　have　with　coffee；〃　said　Clara；　pointing　to　a　box　which　had　been　brought　long　before　in　preparation　for　this。　Tinette　took　it　up；　and　carried　it　out；　dangling　it　contemptuously　in　her　hand。

〃Hardly　worth　the　trouble　I　should　have　thought；〃　she　said　pertly　as　she　left　the　room。

As　Sebastian　opened　the　door　for　the　doctor　he　said　with　a　bow；　〃Will　the　Herr　Doctor　be　so　kind　as　to　give　the　little　miss　my　greetings？〃

〃I　see；〃　said　the　doctor；　〃you　know　then　already　that　I　am　off　on　a　journey。〃

Sebastian　hesitated　and　gave　an　awkward　little　cough。　〃I　amI　haveI　hardly　know　myself　O　yes；　I　remember；　I　happened　to　pass　through　the　dining…room　and　caught　little　miss's　name；　and　I　put　two　and　two　togetherand　so　I　thought〃

〃I　see；　I　see；〃　smiled　the　doctor；　〃one　can　find　out　a　great　many　thinks　by　thinking。　Good…bye　till　I　see　you　again；　Sebastian；　I　will　be　sure　and　give　your　message。〃

The　doctor　was　hastening　off　when　he　met　with　a　sudden　obstacle；　the　violent　wind　had　prevented　Fraulein　Rottenmeier　prosecuting　her　walk　any　farther；　and　she　was　just　returning　and　had　reached　the　door　as　he　was　coming　out。　The　white　shawl　she　wore　was　so　blown　out　by　the　wind　that　she　looked　like　a　ship　in　full　sail。　The　doctor　drew　back；　but　Fraulein　Rottenmeier　had　always　evinced　peculiar　appreciation　and　respect　for　this　man；　and　she　also　drew　back　with　exaggerated　politeness　to　let　him　pass。　The　two　stood　for　a　few　seconds；　each　anxious　to　make　way　for　the　other；　but　a　sudden　gust　of　wind　sent　Fraulein　Rottenmeier　flying　with　all　her　sails　almost　into　the　doctor's　arms；　and　she　had　to　pause　and　recover　herself　before　she　could　shake　hands　with　the　doctor　with　becoming　decorum。　She　was　put　out　at　having　been　forced　to　enter　in　so　undignified　a　manner；　but　the　doctor　had　a　way　of　smoothing　people's　ruffled　feathers；　and　she　was　soon　listening　with　her　usual　composure　while　he　informed　her　of　his　intended　journey；　begging　her　in　his　most　conciliatory　voice　to　pack　up　the　parcels　for　Heidi　as　she　alone　knew　how　to　pack。　And　then　he　took　his　leave。

Clara　quite　expected　to　have　a　long　tussle　with　Fraulein　Rottenmeier　before　she　would　get　the　latter　to　consent　to　sending　all　the　things　that　she　had　collected　as　presents　for　Heidi。　But　this　time　she　was　mistaken；　for　Fraulein　Rottenmeier　was　in　a　more　than　usually　good　temper。　She　cleared　the　large　table　so　that　all　the　things　for　Heidi　could　be　spread　out　upon　it　and　packed　under　Clara's　own　eyes。　It　was　no　light　job；　for　the　presents　were　of　all　shapes　and　sizes。　First　there　was　the　little　warm　cloak　with　a　hood；　which　had　been　designed　by　Clara　herself；　in　order　that　Heidi　during　the　coming　winter　might　be　able　to　go　and　see　grandmother　when　she　liked；　and　not　have　to　wait　till　her　grandfather　could　take　her　wrapped　up　in　a　sack　to　keep　her　from　freezing。　Then　came　a　thick　warm　shawl　for　the　grandmother；　in　which　she　could　wrap　herself　well　up　and　not　feel　the　cold　when　the　wind　came　sweeping　in　such　terrible　gusts　round　the　house。　The　next　object　was　the　large　box　full　of　cakes；　these　were　also　for　the　grandmother；　that　she　might　have　something　to　eat　with　her　coffee　besides　bread。　An　immense　sausage　was　the　next　article；　this　had　been　originally　intended　for　Peter；　who　never　had　anything　but　bread　and　cheese；　but　Clara　had　altered　her　mind；　fearing　that　in　his　delight　he　might　eat　it　all　up　at　once　and　make　himself　ill。　So　she　arranged　to　send　it　to　Brigitta；　who　could　take　some　for　herself　and　the　grandmother　and　give　Peter　his　portion　out　by　degrees。　A　packet　of　tobacco　was　a　present　for　grandfather；　who　was　fond　of　his　pipe　as　he　sat　resting　in　the　evening。　Finally　there　was　a　whole　lot　of　mysterious　little　bags；　and　parcels；　and　boxes；　which　Clara　had　had　especial　pleasure　in　collecting；　as　each　was　to　be　a　joyful　surprise　for　Heidi　as　she　opened　it。　The　work　came　to　an　end　at　last；　and　an　imposing…looking　package　lay　on　the　floor　ready　for　transport。　Fraulein　Rottenmeier　looked　at　it　with　satisfaction；　lost　in　the　consideration　of　the　art　of　packing。　Clara　eyed　it　too　with　pleasure；　picturing　Heidi's　exclamations　and　jumps　of　joy　and　surprise　when　the　huge　parcel　arrived　at　the　hut。

And　now　Sebastian　came　in；　and　lifting　the　package　on　to　his　shoulder；　carried　it　off　to　be　forwarded　at　once　to　the　doctor's　house。



CHAPTER　XVI。　A　VISITOR

The　early　light　of　morning　lay　rosy　red　upon　the　mountains；　and　a　fresh　breeze　rustled　through　the　fir　trees　and　set　their　ancient　branches　waving　to　and　fro。　The　sound　awoke　Heidi　and　she　opened　her　eyes。　The　roaring　in　the　trees　always　stirred　a　strong　emotion　within　her　and　seemed　to　drew　her　irresistibly　to　them。　So　she　jumped　out　of　bed　and　dressed　herself　as　quickly　as　she　could；　but　it　took　her　some　time　even　then；　for　she　was　careful　now　to　be　always　clean　and　tidy。

When　she　went　down　her　ladder　she　found　her　grandfather　had　already　left　the　hut。　He　was　standing　outside　looking　at　the　sky　and　examining　the　landscape　as　he　did　every　morning；　to　see　what　sort　of　weather　it　was　going　to　be。

Little　pink　clouds　were　floating　over　the　sky；　that　was　growing　brighter　and　bluer　with　every　minute；　while　the　heights　and　the　meadow　lands　were　turning　gold　under　the　rising　sun；　which　was　just　appearing　above　the　topmost　peaks。

〃O　how　beautiful！　how　beautiful！　Good…morning；　grandfather！〃　cried　Heidi；　running　out。

〃What；　you　are　awake　already；　are　you？〃　he　answered；　giving　her　a　morning　greeting。

Then　Heidi　ran　round　to　the　fir　trees　to　enjoy　the　sound　she　loved　so　well；　and　with　every　fresh　gust　of　wind　which　came　roaring　through　their　branches　she　gave　a　fresh　jump　and　cry　of　delight。

Meanwhile　the　grandfather　had　gone　to　milk　the　goats；　this　done　he　brushed　and　washed　them；　ready　for　their　mountain　excursion；　and　brought　them　out　of　their　shed。　As　soon　as　Heidi　caught　sight　of　her　two　friends　she　ran　and　embraced　them；　and　they　bleated　in　return；　while　they　vied　with　each　other　in　showing　their　affection　by　poking　their　heads　against　her　and　trying　which　could　get　nearest　her；　so　that　she　was　almost　crushed　between　them。　But　Heidi　was　not　afraid　of　them；　and　when　the　lively　Little　Bear　gave　rather　too　violent　a　thrust；　she　only　said；　〃No；　Little　Bear；　you　are　pushing　like　the　Great　Turk；〃　and　Little　Bear　immediately　drew　back　his　head　and　left　off　his　rough　attentions；　while　Little　Swan　lifted　her　head　and　put　on　an　expression　as　much　as　to　say；　〃No　one　shall　ever　accuse　me　of　behaving　like　the　Great　Turk。〃　For　White　Swan　was　a　rather　more　distinguished　person　than　Brown　Bear。

And　now　Peter's　whistle　was　heard　and　all　the　goats　came　along；　leaping　and　springing；　and　Heidi　soon　found　herself　surrounded　by　the　whole　flock；　pushed　this　way　and　that　by　their　obstreperous　greetings；　but　at　last　she　managed　to　get　through　them　to　where　Snowflake　was　standing；　for　the　young　goat　had　in　vain　striven　to　reach　her。

Peter　now　gave　a　last　tremendous　whistle；　in　order　to　startle　the　goats　and　drive　them　off；　for　he　wanted　to　get　near　himself　to　say　something　to　Heidi。　The　goats　sprang　aside　and　he　came　up　to　her。

〃Can　you　come　out　with　me　to…day？〃　he　asked；　evidently　unwilling　to　hear　her　refuse。

〃I　am　afraid　I　cannot；　Peter；〃　she　answere