heidi-第4章

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　of　more　than　three…quarters　of　an　hour　they　reached　the　top　of　the　Alm　mountain。　Uncle's　hut　stood　on　a　projection　of　the　rock；　exposed　indeed　to　the　winds；　but　where　every　ray　of　sun　could　rest　upon　it；　and　a　full　view　could　be　had　of　the　valley　beneath。　Behind　the　hut　stood　three　old　fir　trees；　with　long；　thick；　unlopped　branches。　Beyond　these　rose　a　further　wall　of　mountain；　the　lower　heights　still　overgrown　with　beautiful　grass　and　plants；　above　which　were　stonier　slopes；　covered　only　with　scrub；　that　led　gradually　up　to　the　steep；　bare　rocky　summits。

Against　the　hut；　on　the　side　looking　towards　the　valley；　Uncle　had　put　up　a　seat。　Here　he　was　sitting；　his　pipe　in　his　mouth　and　his　hands　on　his　knees；　quietly　looking　out；　when　the　children；　the　goats　and　Cousin　Dete　suddenly　clambered　into　view。　Heidi　was　at　the　top　first。　She　went　straight　up　to　the　old　man；　put　out　her　hand；　and　said；　〃Good…evening；　Grandfather。〃

〃So；　so；　what　is　the　meaning　of　this？〃　he　asked　gruffly；　as　he　gave　the　child　an　abrupt　shake　of　the　hand；　and　gazed　long　and　scrutinisingly　at　her　from　under　his　bushy　eyebrows。　Heidi　stared　steadily　back　at　him　in　return　with　unflinching　gaze；　for　the　grandfather；　with　his　long　beard　and　thick　grey　eyebrows　that　grew　together　over　his　nose　and　looked　just　like　a　bush；　was　such　a　remarkable　appearance；　that　Heidi　was　unable　to　take　her　eyes　off　him。　Meanwhile　Dete　had　come　up；　with　Peter　after　her；　and　the　latter　now　stood　still　a　while　to　watch　what　was　going　on。

〃I　wish　you　good…day；　Uncle；〃　said　Dete；　as　she　walked　towards　him；　〃and　I　have　brought　you　Tobias　and　Adelaide's　child。　You　will　hardly　recognise　her；　as　you　have　never　seen　her　since　she　was　a　year　old。〃

〃And　what　has　the　child　to　do　with　me　up　here？〃　asked　the　old　man　curtly。　〃You　there；〃　he　then　called　out　to　Peter；　〃be　off　with　your　goats；　you　are　none　too　early　as　it　is；　and　take　mine　with　you。〃

Peter　obeyed　on　the　instant　and　quickly　disappeared；　for　the　old　man　had　given　him　a　look　that　made　him　feel　that　he　did　not　want　to　stay　any　longer。

〃The　child　is　here　to　remain　with　you；〃　Dete　made　answer。　〃I　have；　I　think；　done　my　duty　by　her　for　these　four　years；　and　now　it　is　time　for　you　to　do　yours。〃

〃That's　it；　is　it？〃　said　the　old　man；　as　he　looked　at　her　with　a　flash　in　his　eye。　〃And　when　the　child　begins　to　fret　and　whine　after　you；　as　is　the　way　with　these　unreasonable　little　beings；　what　am　I　to　do　with　her　then？〃

〃That's　your　affair；〃　retorted　Dete。　〃I　know　I　had　to　put　up　with　her　without　complaint　when　she　was　left　on　my　hands　as　an　infant；　and　with　enough　to　do　as　it　was　for　my　mother　and　self。　Now　I　have　to　go　and　look　after　my　own　earnings；　and　you　are　the　next　of　kin　to　the　child。　If　you　cannot　arrange　to　keep　her；　do　with　her　as　you　like。　You　will　be　answerable　for　the　result　if　harm　happens　to　her；　though　you　have　hardly　need；　I　should　think；　to　add　to　the　burden　already　on　your　conscience。〃

Now　Dete　was　not　quite　easy　in　her　own　conscience　about　what　she　was　doing；　and　consequently　was　feeling　hot　and　irritable；　and　said　more　than　she　had　intended。　As　she　uttered　her　last　words；　Uncle　rose　from　his　seat。　He　looked　at　her　in　a　way　that　made　her　draw　back　a　step　or　two；　then　flinging　out　his　arm；　he　said　to　her　in　a　commanding　voice：　〃Be　off　with　you　this　instant；　and　get　back　as　quickly　as　you　can　to　the　place　whence　you　came；　and　do　not　let　me　see　your　face　again　in　a　hurry。〃

Dete　did　not　wait　to　be　told　twice。　〃Good…bye　to　you　then；　and　to　you　too；　Heidi；〃　she　called；　as　she　turned　quickly　away　and　started　to　descend　the　mountain　at　a　running　pace；　which　she　did　not　slacken　till　she　found　herself　safely　again　at　Dorfli；　for　some　inward　agitation　drove　her　forwards　as　if　a　steam…engine　was　at　work　inside　her。　Again　questions　came　raining　down　upon　her　from　all　sides；　for　every　one　knew　Dete；　as　well　as　all　particulars　of　the　birth　and　former　history　of　the　child；　and　all　wondered　what　she　had　done　with　it。　From　every　door　and　window　came　voices　calling：　〃Where　is　the　child？〃　〃Where　have　you　left　the　child；　Dete？　and　more　and　more　reluctantly　Dete　made　answer；　Up　there　with　Alm…Uncle！〃　〃With　Alm…Uncle；　have　I　not　told　you　so　already？〃

Then　the　women　began　to　hurl　reproaches　at　her；　first　one　cried　out；　〃How　could　you　do　such　a　thing！〃　then　another；　〃To　think　of　leaving　a　helpless　little　thing　up　there；〃while　again　and　again　came　the　words；　〃The　poor　mite！　the　poor　mite！〃　pursuing　her　as　she　went　along。　Unable　at　last　to　bear　it　any　longer　Dete　ran　forward　as　fast　as　she　could　until　she　was　beyond　reach　of　their　voices。　She　was　far　from　happy　at　the　thought　of　what　she　had　done；　for　the　child　had　been　left　in　her　care　by　her　dying　mother。　She　quieted　herself；　however；　with　the　idea　that　she　would　be　better　able　to　do　something　for　the　child　if　she　was　earning　plenty　of　money；　and　it　was　a　relief　to　her　to　think　that　she　would　soon　be　far　away　from　all　these　people　who　were　making　such　a　fuss　about　the　matter；　and　she　rejoiced　further　still　that　she　was　at　liberty　now　to　take　such　a　good　place。



CHAPTER　II。　AT　HOME　WITH　GRANDFATHER

As　soon　as　Dete　had　disappeared　the　old　man　went　back　to　his　bench；　and　there　he　remained　seated；　staring　on　the　ground　without　uttering　a　sound；　while　thick　curls　of　smoke　floated　upward　from　his　pipe。　Heidi；　meanwhile；　was　enjoying　herself　in　her　new　surroundings；　she　looked　about　till　she　found　a　shed；　built　against　the　hut；　where　the　goats　were　kept；　she　peeped　in；　and　saw　it　was　empty。　She　continued　her　search　and　presently　came　to　the　fir　trees　behind　the　hut。　A　strong　breeze　was　blowing　through　them；　and　there　was　a　rushing　and　roaring　in　their　topmost　branches；　Heidi　stood　still　and　listened。　The　sound　growing　fainter；　she　went　on　again；　to　the　farther　corner　of　the　hut；　and　so　round　to　where　her　grandfather　was　sitting。　Seeing　that　he　was　in　exactly　the　same　position　as　when　she　left　him；　she　went　and　placed　herself　in　front　of　the　old　man；　and　putting　her　hands　behind　her　back；　stood　and　gazed　at　him。　Her　grandfather　looked　up；　and　as　she　continued　standing　there　without　moving；　〃What　is　it　you　want？〃　he　asked。

〃I　want　to　see　what　you　have　inside　the　house；〃　said　Heidi。

〃Come　then！〃　and　the　grandfather　rose　and　went　before　her　towards　the　hut。

〃Bring　your　bundle　of　clothes　in　with　you；〃　he　bid　her　as　she　was　following。

〃I　shan't　want　them　any　more；〃　was　her　prompt　answer。

The　old　man　turned　and　looked　searchingly　at　the　child；　whose　dark　eyes　were　sparkling　in　delighted　anticipation　of　what　she　was　going　to　see　inside。　〃She　is　certainly　not　wanting　in　intelligence；〃　he　murmured　to　himself。　〃And　why　shall　you　not　want　them　any　more？〃　he　asked　aloud。

〃Because　I　want　to　go　about　like　the　goats　with　their　thin　light　legs。〃

〃Well；　you　can　do　so　if　you　like；〃　said　her　grandfather；　〃but　bring　the　things　in；　we　must　put　them　in　the　cupboard。〃

Heidi　did　as　she　was　told。　The　old　man　now　opened　the　door　and　Heidi　stepped　inside　after　him；　she　found　herself　in　a　good…sized　room；　which　covered　the　whole　ground　floor　of　the　hut。　A　table　and　a　chair　were　the　only　furniture；　in　one　corner　stood　the　grandfather's　bed；　in　another　was　the　hearth　with　a　large　kettle　hanging　above　it；　and　on　the　further　side　was　a　large　door　in　the　wallthis　was　the　cupboard。　The　grandfather　opened　it；　inside　were　his　clothes；　some　hanging　up；　others；　a　couple　of　shirts；　and　some　socks　and　handkerchiefs；　lying　on　a　shelf；　on　a　second　shelf　were　some　plates　and　cups　and　glasses；　and　on　a　higher　one　still；　a　round　loaf；　smoked　meat；　and　cheese；　for　everything　that　Alm…Uncle　needed　for　his　food　and　clothing　was　kept　in　this　cupboard。　Heidi；　as　soon　as　it　was　opened；　ran　quickly　forward　and　thrust　in　her　bundle　of　clothes；　as　far　back　behind　her　grandfather's　things　as　possible；　so　that　they　might　not　easily　be　found　again。　She　then　looked　carefully　round　the　room；　and　asked；　〃Where　am　I　to　sleep；　grandfather？〃

〃Wherever　you　like；〃　he　answered。

Heidi　was　delighted；　and　began　at　once　to　examine　all　the　nooks　and　corners　to　find　out　where　it　would　be　pleasantest　to　sleep。　In　the　corner　near　her　grandfather's　bed　she　saw　a　short　ladder　against　the　wall；　up　she　climbed　and　found