heidi-第47章

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ill　it　broke　with　force　against　the　fir　trees；　bending　and　shaking　them；　and　seeming　to　shout　for　joy；　so　that　she　too；　though　blown　about　like　a　feather；　felt　she　must　join　in　the　chorus　of　exulting　sounds。　Then　she　would　run　round　again　to　the　sunny　space　in　front　of　the　hut；　and　seating　herself　on　the　ground　would　peer　closely　into　the　short　grass　to　see　how　many　little　flower　cups　were　open　or　thinking　of　opening。　She　rejoiced　with　all　the　myriad　little　beetles　and　winged　insects　that　jumped　and　crawled　and　danced　in　the　sun；　and　drew　in　deep　draughts　of　the　spring　scents　that　rose　from　the　newly…awakened　earth；　and　thought　the　mountain　was　more　beautiful　than　ever。　All　the　tiny　living　creatures　must　be　as　happy　as　she；　for　it　seemed　to　her　there　were　little　voices　all　round　her　singing　and　humming　in　joyful　tones；　〃On　the　mountain！　on　the　mountain！〃

From　the　shed　at　the　back　came　the　sound　of　sawing　and　chopping；　and　Heidi　listened　to　it　with　pleasure；　for　it　was　the　old　familiar　sound　she　had　known　from　the　beginning　of　her　life　up　here。　Suddenly　she　jumped　up　and　ran　round；　for　she　must　know　what　her　grandfather　was　doing。　In　front　of　the　shed　door　already　stood　a　finished　new　chair；　and　a　second　was　in　course　of　construction　under　the　grandfather's　skilful　hand。

〃Oh；　I　know　what　these　are　for；〃　exclaimed　Heidi　in　great　glee。　〃We　shall　want　them　when　they　all　come　from　Frankfurt。　This　one　is　for　Grandmamma；　and　the　one　you　are　now　making　is　for　Clara；　and　thenthen；　there　will；　I　suppose；　have　to　be　another；〃　continued　Heidi　with　more　hesitation　in　her　voice；　〃or　do　you　think；　grandfather；　that　perhaps　Fraulein　Rottenmeier　will　not　come　with　them？〃

〃Well；　I　cannot　say　just　yet；〃　replied　her　grandfather；　〃but　it　will　be　safer　to　make　one　so　that　we　can　offer　her　a　seat　if　she　does。〃

Heidi　looked　thoughtfully　at　the　plain　wooden　chair　without　arms　as　if　trying　to　imagine　how　Fraulein　Rottenmeier　and　a　chair　of　this　sort　would　suit　one　another。　After　a　few　minutes'　contemplation；　〃Grandfather；〃　she　said；　shaking　her　head　doubtfully；　〃I　don't　think　she　would　be　able　to　sit　on　that。〃

〃Then　we　will　invite　her　on　the　couch　with　the　beautiful　green　turf　feather…bed；〃　was　her　grandfather's　quiet　rejoinder。

While　Heidi　was　pausing　to　consider　what　this　might　be　there　approached　from　above　a　whistling；　calling；　and　other　sounds　which　Heidi　immediately　recognised。　She　ran　out　and　found　herself　surrounded　by　her　four…footed　friends。　They　were　apparently　as　pleased　as　she　was　to　be　among　the　heights　again；　for　they　leaped　about　and　bleated　for　joy；　pushing　Heidi　this　way　and　that；　each　anxious　to　express　his　delight　with　some　sign　of　affection。　But　Peter　sent　them　flying　to　right　and　left；　for　he　had　something　to　give　to　Heidi。　When　he　at　last　got　up　to　her　he　handed　her　a　letter。

〃There！〃　he　exclaimed；　leaving　the　further　explanation　of　the　matter　to　Heidi　herself。

〃Did　some　one　give　you　this　while　you　were　out　with　the　goats；〃　she　asked；　in　her　surprise。

〃No；〃　was　the　answer。

〃Where　did　you　get　it　from　then？

〃I　found　it　in　the　dinner　bag。〃

Which　was　true　to　a　certain　extent。　The　letter　to　Heidi　had　been　given　him　the　evening　before　by　the　postman　at　Dorfli；　and　Peter　had　put　it　into　his　empty　bag。　That　morning　he　had　stuffed　his　bread　and　cheese　on　the　top　of　it；　and　had　forgotten　it　when　he　fetched　Alm…Uncle's　two　goats；　only　when　he　had　finished　his　bread　and　cheese　at　mid…day　and　was　searching　in　the　bag　for　any　last　crumbs　did　he　remember　the　letter　which　lay　at　the　bottom。

Heidi　read　the　address　carefully；　then　she　ran　back　to　the　shed　holding　out　her　letter　to　her　grandfather　in　high　glee。　〃From　Frankfurt！　from　Clara！　Would　you　like　to　hear　it？〃

The　grandfather　was　ready　and　pleased　to　do　so；　as　also　Peter；　who　had　followed　Heidi　into　the　shed。　He　leant　his　back　against　the　door　post；　as　he　felt　he　could　follow　Heidi's　reading　better　if　firmly　supported　from　behind；　and　so　stood　prepared　to　listen。


〃Dearest　Heidi；　Everything　is　packed　and　we　shall　start　now　in　two　or　three　days；　as　soon　as　papa　himself　is　ready　to　leave；　he　is　not　coming　with　us　as　he　has　first　to　go　to　Paris。　The　doctor　comes　every　day；　and　as　soon　as　he　is　inside　the　door；　he　cries；　'Off　now　as　quickly　as　you　can；　off　to　the　mountain。'　He　is　most　impatient　about　our　going。　You　cannot　think　how　much　he　enjoyed　himself　when　he　was　with　you！　He　has　called　nearly　every　day　this　winter；　and　each　time　he　has　come　in　to　my　room　and　said　he　must　tell　me　about　everything　again。　And　then　he　sits　down　and　describes　all　he　did　with　you　and　the　grandfather；　and　talks　of　the　mountains　and　the　flowers　and　of　the　great　silence　up　there　far　above　all　towns　and　the　villages；　and　of　the　fresh　delicious　air；　and　often　adds；　'No　one　can　help　getting　well　up　there。'　He　himself　is　quite　a　different　man　since　his　visit；　and　looks　quite　young　again　and　happy；　which　he　had　not　been　for　a　long　time　before。　Oh；　how　I　am　looking　forward　to　seeing　everything　and　to　being　with　you　on　the　mountain；　and　to　making　the　acquaintance　of　Peter　and　the　goats。

〃I　shall　have　first　to　go　through　a　six　weeks'　cure　at　Ragatz；　this　the　doctor　has　ordered；　and　then　we　shall　move　up　to　Dorfli；　and　every　fine　day　I　shall　be　carried　up　the　mountain　in　my　chair　and　spend　the　day　with　you。　Grandmamma　is　travelling　with　me　and　will　remain　with　me；　she　also　is　delighted　at　the　thought　of　paying　you　a　visit。　But　just　imagine；　Fraulein　Rottenmeier　refuses　to　come　with　us。　Almost　every　day　grandmamma　says　to　her；　'Well；　how　about　this　Swiss　journey；　my　worthy　Rottenmeier？　Pray　say　if　you　really　would　like　to　come　with　us。'　But　she　always　thanks　grandmamma　very　politely　and　says　she　has　quite　made　up　her　mind。　I　think　I　know　what　has　done　it：　Sebastian　gave　such　a　frightful　description　of　the　mountain；　of　how　the　rocks　were　so　overhanging　and　dangerous　that　at　any　minute　you　might　fall　into　a　crevasse；　and　how　it　was　such　steep　climbing　that　you　feared　at　every　step　to　go　slipping　to　the　bottom；　and　that　goats　alone　could　make　their　way　up　without　fear　of　being　killed。　She　shuddered　when　she　heard　him　tell　of　all　this；　and　since　then　she　has　not　been　so　enthusiastic　about　Switzerland　as　she　was　before。　Fear　has　also　taken　possession　of　Tinette；　and　she　also　refuses　to　come。　So　grandmamma　and　I　will　be　alone；　Sebastian　will　go　with　us　as　far　as　Ragatz　and　then　return　here。

〃I　can　hardly　bear　waiting　till　I　see　you　again。　Good…bye；　dearest　Heidi；　grandmamma　sends　you　her　best　love　and　all　good　wishes。Your　affectionate　friend；　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Clara。〃


Peter；　as　soon　as　the　conclusion　of　the　letter　had　been　reached；　left　his　reclining　position　and　rushed　out；　twirling　his　stick　in　the　air　in　such　a　reckless　fashion　that　the　frightened　goats　fled　down　the　mountain　before　him　with　higher　and　wider　leaps　than　usual。　Peter　followed　at　full　speed；　his　stick　still　raised　in　air　in　a　menacing　manner　as　if　he　was　longing　to　vent　his　fury　on　some　invisible　foe。　This　foe　was　indeed　the　prospect　of　the　arrival　of　the　Frankfurt　visitors；　the　thought　of　whom　filled　him　with　exasperation。

Heidi　was　so　full　of　joyful　anticipation　that　she　determined　to　seize　the　first　possible　moment　next　day　to　go　down　and　tell　grandmother　who　was　coming；　and　also　particularly　who　was　not　coming。　These　details　would　be　of　great　interestto　her；　for　grandmother　knew　well　all　the　persons　named　from　Heidi's　description；　and　had　entered　with　deep　sympathy　into　all　that　the　child　had　told　her　of　her　life　and　surroundings　in　Frankfurt。　Heidi　paid　her　visit　in；　the　early　afternoon；　for　she　could　now　go　alone　again；　the　sun　was　bright　in　the　heavens　and　the　days　were　growing　longer；　and　it　was　delightful　to　go　racing　down　the　mountain　over　the　dry　ground；　with　the　brisk　May　wind　blowing　from　behind；　and　speeding　Heidi　on　her　way　a　little　more　quickly　than　her　legs　alone　would　have　carried　her。

The　grandmother　was　no　longer　confined　to　her　bed。　She　was　back　in　her　corner　at　her　spinning…wheel；　but　there　was　an　expression　on　her　face　of　mournful　anxiety。　Peter　had　come　in　the　evening　before　brimful　of　anger　and　had　told　about　the　large　party　who　were　coming