heidi-第46章
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Peter growled； 〃Yes； but I shan't go！〃 But he was very diligent that day； as if under the impression that some one would seize him suddenly by the collar and drag him where he would rather not go。 The next evening Heidi read：
If you falter at W； worst of all； Look at the stick against the wall。
Peter looked at the wall and said scornfully； 〃There isn't one。〃
〃Yes； but do you know what grandfather has in his box？〃 asked Heidi。 〃A stick as thick almost as your arm； and if he took that out； you might well say； look at the stick on the wall。〃
Peter knew that thick hazel stick； and immediately bent his head over the W and struggled to master it。 Another day the lines ran：
Then comes the X for you to say Or be sure you'll get no food to…day。
Peter looked towards the cupboard where the bread and cheese were kept and said crossly； 〃I never said that I should forget the X。〃
〃That's all right； if you don't forget it we can go on to learn the next； and then you will only have one more；〃 replied Heidi； anxious to encourage him。
Peter did not quite understand； but when Heidi went on and read：
And should you make a stop at Y； They'll point at you and cry； Fie； fie。
All the gentlemen in Frankfurt with tall black hats on their heads； and scorn and mockery in their faces rose up before his mind's eye； and he threw himself with energy on the Y； not letting it go till at last he knew it so thoroughly that he could see what it was like even when he shut his eyes。
He arrived on the following day in a somewhat lofty frame of mind； for there was now only one letter to struggle over； and when Heidi began the lesson with reading aloud：
Make haste with Z； if you're too； slow Off to the Hottentots you'll go。
Peter remarked scornfully； 〃I dare say； when no one knows even where such people live。〃
〃I assure you； Peter；〃 replied Heidi； 〃grandfather knows all about them。 Wait a second and I will run and ask him； for he is only over the way with the pastor。〃 And she rose and ran to the door to put her words into action； but Peter cried out in a voice of agony；
〃Stop！〃 for he already saw himself being carried off by Alm…Uncle and the pastor and sent straight away to the Hottentots； since as yet he did not know his last letter。 His cry of fear brought Heidi back。
〃What is the matter？〃 she asked in astonishment。
〃Nothing！ come back！ I am going to learn my letter；〃 he said； stammering with fear。 Heidi； however； herself wished to know where the Hottentots lived and persisted that she should ask her grandfather； but she gave in at last to Peter's despairing entreaties。 She insisted on his doing something in return； and so not only had he to repeat his Z until it was so fixed in his memory that he could never forget it again； but she began teaching him to spell； and Peter really made a good start that evening。 So it went on from day to day。
The frost had gone and the snow was soft again； and moreover fresh snow continually fell； so that it was quite three weeks before Heidi could go to the grandmother again。 So much the more eagerly did she pursue her teaching so that Peter might compensate for her absence by reading hymns to the old woman。 One evening he walked in home after leaving Heidi； and as he entered he said； 〃I can do it now。〃
〃Do what； Peter？〃 asked his mother。
〃Read；〃 he answered。
〃Do you really mean it？ Did you hear that； grandmother？〃 she called out。
The grandmother had heard； and was already wondering how such a thing could have come to pass。
〃I must read one of the hymns now； Heidi told me to；〃 he went on to inform them。 His mother hastily fetched the book； and the grandmother lay in joyful expectation； for it was so long since she had heard the good words。 Peter sat down to the table and began to read。 His mother sat beside him listening with surprise and exclaiming at the close of each verse； 〃Who would have thought it possible！〃
The grandmother did not speak though she followed the words he read with strained attention。
It happened on the day following this that there was a reading lesson in Peter's class。 When it came to his turn； the teacher said；
〃We must pass over Peter as usual； or will you try again once moreI will not say to read； but to stammer through a sentence。〃
Peter took the book and read off three lines without the slightest hesitation。
The teacher put down his book and stared at Peter as at some out…of…the…way and marvellous thing unseen before。 At last he spoke；
〃Peter； some miracle has been performed upon you！ Here have I been striving with unheard…of patience to teach you and you have not hitherto been able to say your letters even。 And now； just as I had made up my mind not to waste any more trouble upon you； you suddenly are able to read a consecutive sentence properly and distinctly。 How has such a miracle come to pass in our days？〃
〃It was Heidi；〃 answered Peter。
The teacher looked in astonishment towards Heidi； who was sitting innocently on her bench with no appearance of anything supernatural about her。 He continued； 〃I have noticed a change in you altogether； Peter。 Whereas formerly you often missed coming to school for a week； or even weeks at a time； you have lately not stayed away a single day。 Who has wrought this change for good in you？〃
〃It was Uncle；〃 answered Peter。
With increasing surprise the teacher looked from Peter to Heidi and back again at Peter。
〃We will try once more；〃 he said cautiously； and Peter had again to show off his accomplishment by reading another three lines。 There was no mistake about itPeter could read。 As soon as school was over the teacher went over to the pastor to tell him this piece of news； and to inform him of the happy result of Heidi's and the grandfather's combined efforts。
Every evening Peter read one hymn aloud； so far he obeyed Heidi。 Nothing would induce him to read a second； and indeed the grandmother never asked for it。 His mother Brigitta could not get over her surprise at her son's attainment； and when the reader was in bed would often express her pleasure at it。 〃Now he has learnt to read there is no knowing what may be made of him yet。〃
On one of these occasions the grandmother answered； 〃Yes； it is good for him to have learnt something； but I shall indeed be thankful when spring is here again and Heidi can come； they are not like the same hymns when Peter reads them。 So many words seem missing； and I try to think what they ought to be and then I lose the sense； and so the hymns do not come home to my heart as when Heidi reads them。〃
The truth was that Peter arranged to make his reading as little troublesome for himself as possible。 When he came upon a word that he thought was too long or difficult in any other way； he left it out； for he decided that a word or two less in a verse； where there were so many of them； could make no difference to his grandmother。 And so it came about that most of the principal words were missing in the hymns that Peter read aloud。
CHAPTER XX。 NEWS FROM DISTANT FRIENDS
It was the month of May。 From every height the full fresh streams of spring were flowing down into the valley。 The clear warm sunshine lay upon the mountain； which had turned green again。 The last snows had disappeared and the sun had already coaxed many of the flowers to show their bright heads above the grass。 Up above the gay young wind of spring was singing through the fir trees； and shaking down the old dark needles to make room for the new bright green ones that were soon to deck out the trees in their spring finery。 Higher up still the great bird went circling round in the blue ether as of old； while the golden sunshine lit up the grandfather's hut； and all the ground about it was warm and dry again so that one might sit out where one liked。 Heidi was at home again on the mountain； running backwards and forwards in her accustomed way； not knowing which spot was most delightful。 Now she stood still to listen to the deep； mysterious voice of the wind； as it blew down to her from the mountain summits； coming nearer and nearer and gathering strength as it came； till it broke wi
