heidi-第40章

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〃There；　Heidi；　now　run　in　and　bring　us　what　we　want　for　the　table；〃　he　said。　〃The　doctor　must　take　us　as　he　finds　us；　if　the　food　is　plain；　he　will　acknowledge　that　the　dining…room　is　pleasant。〃

〃I　should　think　so　indeed；〃　replied　the　doctor　as　he　looked　down　over　the　sun…lit　valley；　〃and　I　accept　the　kind　invitation；　everything　must　taste　good　up　here。〃

Heidi　ran　backwards　and　forwards　as　busy　as　a　bee　and　brought　out　everything　she　could　find　in　the　cupboard；　for　she　did　not　know　how　to　be　pleased　enough　that　she　could　help　to　entertain　the　doctor。　The　grandfather　meanwhile　had　been　preparing　the　meal；　and　now　appeared　with　a　steaming　jug　of　milk　and　golden…brown　toasted　cheese。　Then　he　cut　some　thin　slices　from　the　meat　he　had　cured　himself　in　the　pure　air；　and　the　doctor　enjoyed　his　dinner　better　than　he　had　for　a　whole　year　past。

〃Our　Clara　must　certainly　come　up　here；〃　he　said；　〃it　would　make　her　quite　a　different　person；　and　if　she　ate　for　any　length　of　time　as　I　have　to…day；　she　would　grow　plumper　than　any　one　has　ever　known　her　before。〃

As　he　spoke　a　man　was　seen　coming　up　the　path　carrying　a　large　package　on　his　back。　When　he　reached　the　hut　tie　threw　it　on　the　ground　and　drew　in　two　or　three　good　breaths　of　the　mountain　air。

〃Ah；　here's　what　travelled　with　me　from　Frankfurt；〃　said　the　doctor；　rising；　and　he　went　up　to　the　package　and　began　undoing　it；　Heidi　looking　on　in　great　expectation。　After　he　had　released　it　from　its　heavy　outer　covering；　〃There；　child；〃　he　said；　〃now　you　can　go　on　unpacking　your　treasures　yourself。〃

Heidi　undid　her　presents　one　by　one　until　they　were　all　displayed；　she　could　not　speak　the　while　for　wonder　and　delight。　Not　till　the　doctor　went　up　to　her　again　and　opened　the　large　box　to　show　Heidi　the　cakes　that　were　for　the　grandmother　to　eat　with　her　coffee；　did　she　at　last　give　a　cry　of　joy；　exclaiming；　〃Now　grandmother　will　have　nice　things　to　eat；〃　and　she　wanted　to　pack　everything　up　again　and　start　at　once　to　give　them　to　her。　But　the　grandfather　said　he　should　walk　down　with　the　doctor　that　evening　and　she　could　go　with　them　and　take　the　things。　Heidi　now　found　the　packet　of　tobacco　which　she　ran　and　gave　to　her　grandfather；　he　was　so　pleased　with　it　that　he　immediately　filled　his　pipe　with　some；　and　the　two　men　then　sat　down　together　again；　the　smoke　curling　up　from　their　pipes　as　they　talked　of　all　kinds　of　things；　while　Heidi　continued　to　examine　first　one　and　then　another　of　her　presents。　Suddenly　she　ran　up　to　them；　and　standing　in　front　of　the　doctor　waited　till　there　was　a　pause　in　the　conversation；　and　then　said；　〃No；　the　other　thing　has　not　given　me　more　pleasure　than　seeing　you；　doctor。〃

The　two　men　could　not　help　laughing；　and　the　doctor　answered　that　he　should　never　have　thought　it。

As　the　sun　began　to　sink　behind　the　mountains　the　doctor　rose；　thinking　it　was　time　to　return　to　Dorfli　and　seek　for　quarters。　The　grandfather　carried　the　cakes　and　the　shawl　and　the　large　sausage；　and　the　doctor　took　Heidi's　hand；　so　they　all　three　started　down　the　mountain。　Arrived　at　Peter's　home　Heidi　bid　the　others　good…bye；　she　was　to　wait　at　grandmother's　till　her　grandfather；　who　was　going　on　to　Dorfli　with　his　guest；　returned　to　fetch　her。　As　the　doctor　shook　hands　with　her　she　asked；　〃Would　you　like　to　come　out　with　the　goats　to…morrow　morning？〃　for　she　could　think　of　no　greater　treat　to　offer　him。

〃Agreed！〃　answered　the　doctor；　〃we　will　go　together；〃

Heidi　now　ran　in　to　the　grandmother；　she　first；　with　some　effort；　managed　to　carry　in　the　box　of　cakes；　then　she　ran　out　again　and　brought　in　the　sausagefor　her　grandfather　had　put　the　presents　down　by　the　doorand　then　a　third　time　for　the　shawl。　She　had　placed　them　as　close　as　she　could　to　the　grandmother；　so　that　the　latter　might　be　able　to　feel　them　and　understand　what　was　there。　The　shawl　she　laid　over　the　old　woman's　knees。

〃They　are　all　from　Frankfurt；　from　Clara　and　grandmamma；〃　she　explained　to　the　astonished　grandmother　and　Brigitta；　the　latter　having　watched　her　dragging　in　all　the　heavy　things；　unable　to　imagine　what　was　happening。

〃And　you　are　very　pleased　with　the　cakes；　aren't　you；　grandmother？　taste　how　soft　they　are！〃　said　Heidi　over　and　over　again；　to　which　the　grandmother　continued　to　answer；　〃Yes；　yes；　Heidi；　I　should　think　so！　what　kind　people　they　must　be！〃　And　then　she　would　pass　her　hand　over　the　warm　thick　shawl　and　add；　〃This　will　be　beautiful　for　the　cold　winter！　I　never　thought　I　should　ever　have　such　a　splendid　thing　as　this　to　put　on。〃

Heidi　could　not　help　feeling　some　surprise　at　the　grandmother　seeming　to　take　more　pleasure　in　the　shawl　than　the　cakes。　Meanwhile　Brigitta　stood　gazing　at　the　sausage　with　almost　an　expression　of　awe。　She　had　hardly　in　her　life　seen　such　a　monster　sausage；　much　less　owned　one；　and　she　could　scarcely　believe　her　eyes。　She　shook　her　head　and　said　doubtfully；　〃I　must　ask　Uncle　what　it　is　meant　for；〃

But　Heidi　answered　without　hesitation；　〃It　is　meant　for　eating；　not　for　anything　else。〃

Peter　came　tumbling　in　at　this　minute。　〃Uncle　is　just　behind　me；　he　is　coming〃　he　began；　and　then　stopped　short；　for　his　eye　had　caught　sight　of　the　sausage；　and　he　was　too　much　taken　aback　to　say　more。　But　Heidi　understood　that　her　grandfather　was　near　and　so　said　good…bye　to　grandmother。　The　old　man　now　never　passed　the　door　without　going　in　to　wish　the　old　woman　good…day；　and　she　liked　to　hear　his　footstep　approaching；　for　he　always　had　a　cheery　word　for　her。　But　to…day　it　was　growing　late　for　Heidi；　who　was　always　up　with　the　lark；　and　the　grandfather　would　never　let　her　go　to　bed　after　hours；　so　this　evening　he　only　called　good…night　through　the　open　door　and　started　home　at　once　with　the　child；　and　the　two　climbed　under　the　starlit　sky　back　to　their　peaceful　dwelling。



CHAPTER　XVII。　A　COMPENSATION

The　next　morning　the　doctor　climbed　up　from　Dorfli　with　Peter　and　the　goats。　The　kindly　gentleman　tried　now　and　then　to　enter　into　conversation　with　the　boy；　but　his　attempts　failed；　for　he　could　hardly　get　a　word　out　of　Peter　in　answer　to　his　questions。　Peter　was　not　easily　persuaded　to　talk。　So　the　party　silently　made　their　way　up　to　the　hut；　where　they　found　Heidi　awaiting　them　with　her　two　goats；　all　three　as　fresh　and　lively　as　the　morning　sun　among　the　mountains。

〃Are　you　coming　to…day？〃　said　Peter；　repeating　the　words　with　which　he　daily　greeted　her；　either　in　question　or　in　summons。

〃Of　course　I　am；　if　the　doctor　is　coming　too；〃　replied　Heidi。

Peter　cast　a　sidelong　glance　at　the　doctor。　The　grandfather　now　came　out　with　the　dinner　bag；　and　after　bidding　good…day　to　the　doctor　he　went　up　to　Peter　and　slung　it　over　his　neck。　It　was　heavier　than　usual；　for　Alm…Uncle　had　added　some　meat　to…day；　as　he　thought　the　doctor　might　like　to　have　his　lunch　out　and　eat　it　when　the　children　did。　Peter　gave　a　grin；　for　he　felt　sure　there　was　something　more　than　ordinary　in　it。

And　so　the　ascent　began。　The　goats　as　usual　came　thronging　around　Heidi；　each　trying　to　be　nearest　her；　until　at　last　she　stood　still　and　said；　〃Now　you　must　go　on　in　front　and　behave　properly；　and　not　keep　on　turning　back　and　pushing　and　poking　me；　for　I　want　to　talk　to　the　doctor；〃　and　she　gave　Snowflake　a　little　pat　on　the　back　and　told　her　to　be　good　and　obedient。　By　degrees　she　managed　to　make　her　way　out　from　among　them　and　joined　the　doctor；　who　took　her　by　the　hand。　He　had　no　difficulty　now　in　conversing　with　his　companion；　for　Heidi　had　a　great　deal　to　say　about　the　goats　and　their　peculiarities；　and　about　the　flowers　and　the　rocks　and　the　birds；　and　so　they　clambered　on　and　reached　their　resting…place　before　they　were　aware。　Peter　had　sent　a　good　many　unfriendly　glances　towards　the　doctor　on　the　way　up；　which　might　have　quite　alarmed　the　latter　if　he　had　happened　to　notice　them；　which；　fortunately；　he　did　not。

Heidi　now　led　her　friend　to　her　favorite　spot　where　she　was　accustomed　to　sit　and　enjoy　the　beauty　around　her；　the　doctor　followed　her　example　and　took　his　seat　beside　her　on　the　warm　grass。　Over　the　heights　and　over　the　far　green　valley　hung　the　golden　glory　of　the　autumn　day。　The　great　snow…field　sparkled　in　the　bright　sunlight；　and　the　two　grey　rocky　peak