heidi-第48章

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r　had　come　in　the　evening　before　brimful　of　anger　and　had　told　about　the　large　party　who　were　coming　up　from　Frankfurt；　and　he　did　not　know　what　other　things　might　happen　after　that；　and　the　old　woman　had　not　slept　all　night；　pursued　by　the　old　thought　of　Heidi　being　taken　from　her。　Heidi　ran　in；　and　taking　her　little　stool　immediately　sat　down　by　grandmother　and　began　eagerly　pouring　out　all　her　news；　growing　more　excited　with　her　pleasure　as　she　went　on。　But　all　of　a　sudden　she　stopped　short　and　said　anxiously；　〃What　is　the　matter；　grandmother；　aren't　you　a　bit　pleased　with　what　I　am　telling　you？〃

〃Yes；　yes；　of　course；　child；　since　it　gives　you　so　much　pleasure；〃　she　answered；　trying　to　look　more　cheerful。

〃But　I　can　see　all　the　same　that　something　troubles　you。　Is　it　because　you　think　after　all　that　Fraulein　Rottenmeier　may　come？〃　asked　Heidi；　beginning　to　feel　anxious　herself。

〃No；　no！　it　is　nothing；　child；〃　said　the　grandmother；　wishing　to　reassure　her。　〃just　give　me　your　hand　that　I　may　feel　sure　you　are　there。　No　doubt　it　would　be　the　best　thing　for　you；　although　I　feel　I　could　scarcely　survive　it。〃

〃I　do　not　want　anything　of　the　best　if　you　could　scarcely　survive　it；〃　said　Heidi；　in　such　a　determined　tone　of　voice　that　the　grandmother's　fears　increased　as　she　felt　sure　the　people　from　Frankfurt　were　coming　to　take　Heidi　back　with　them；　since　now　she　was　well　again　they　naturally　wished　to　have　her　with　them　once　more。　But　she　was　anxious　to　hide　her　trouble　from　Heidi　if　possible；　as　the　latter　was　so　sympathetic　that　she　might　refuse　perhaps　to　go　away；　and　that　would　not　be　right。　She　sought　for　help；　but　not　for　long；　for　she　knew　of　only　one。

〃Heidi；〃　she　said；　〃there　is　something　that　would　comfort　me　and　calm　my　thoughts；　read　me　the　hymn　beginning：　'All　things　will　work　for　good。'　〃

Heidi　found　the　place　at　once　and　read　out　in　her　clear　young　voice：

　　　　　　　　　　All　things　will　work　for　good　　　　　　　　　　　　To　those　who　trust　in　Me；　　　　　　　　　　　　I　come　with　healing　on　my　wings；　　　　　　　　　　　　To　save　and　set　thee　free。


〃Yes；　yes；　that　is　just　what　I　wanted　to　hear；〃　said　the　grandmother；　and　the　deep　expression　of　trouble　passed　from　her　face。　Heidi　looked　at　her　thoughtfully　for　a　minute　or　two　and　then　said；　〃Healing　means　that　which　cures　everything　and　makes　everybody　well；　doesn't　it；　grandmother？〃

〃Yes；　that　is　it；〃　replied　the　old　woman　with　a　nod　of　assent；　〃and　we　may　be　sure　everything　will　come　to　pass　according　to　God's　good　purpose。　Read　the　verse　again；　that　we　may　remember　it　well　and　not　forget　it　again。〃

And　Heidi　read　the　words　over　two　or　three　times；　for　she　also　found　pleasure　in　this　assurance　of　all　things　being　arranged　for　the　best。

When　the　evening　came；　Heidi　returned　home　up　the　mountain。　The　stars　came　out　overhead　one　by　one；　so　bright　and　sparkling　that　each　seemed　to　send　a　fresh　ray　of　joy　into　her　heart；　she　was　obliged　to　pause　continually　to　look　up；　and　as　the　whole　sky　at　last　grew　spangled　with　them　she　spoke　aloud；　〃Yes；　I　understand　now　why　we　feel　so　happy；　and　are　not　afraid　about　anything；　because　God　knows　what　is　good　and　beautiful　for　us。〃　And　the　stars　with　their　glistening　eyes　continued　to　nod　to　her　till　she　reached　home；　where　she　found　her　grandfather　also　standing　and　looking　up　at　them；　for　they　had　seldom　been　more　glorious　than　they　were　this　night。

Not　only　were　the　nights　of　this　month　of　May　so　clear　and　bright；　but　the　days　as　well；　the　sun　rose　every　morning　into　the　cloudless　sky；　as　undimmed　in　its　splendor　as　when　it　sank　the　evening　before；　and　the　grandfather　would　look　out　early　and　exclaim　with　astonishment；　〃This　is　indeed　a　wonderful　year　of　sun；　it　will　make　all　the　shrubs　and　plants　grow　apace；　you　will　have　to　see；　general；　that　your　army　does　not　get　out　of　hand　from　overfeeding。〃　And　Peter　would　swing　his　stick　with　an　air　of　assurance　and　an　expression　on　his　face　as　much　as　to　say；　see　to　that。〃

So　May　passed；　everything　growing　greener　and　greener；　and　then　came　the　month　of　June；　with　a　hotter　sun　and　long　light　days；　that　brought　the　flowers　out　all　over　the　mountain；　so　that　every　spot　was　bright　with　them　and　the　air　full　of　their　sweet　scents。　This　month　too　was　drawing　to　its　close　when　one　day　Heidi；　having　finished　her　domestic　duties；　ran　out　with　the　intention　of　paying　first　a　visit　to　the　fir　trees；　and　then　going　up　higher　to　see　if　the　bush　of　rock　roses　was　yet　in　bloom；　for　its　flowers　were　so　lovely　when　standing　open　in　the　sun。　But　just　as　she　was　turning　the　corner　of　the　hut；　she　gave　such　a　loud　cry　that　her　grandfather　came　running　out　of　the　shed　to　see　what　had　happened。

〃Grandfather；　grandfather！〃　she　cried；　beside　herself　with　excitement。　〃Come　here！　look！　look！〃

The　old　man　was　by　her　side　by　this　time　and　looked　in　the　direction　of　her　outstretched　hand。

A　strange　looking　procession　was　making　its　way　up　the　mountain；　in　front　were　two　men　carrying　a　sedan　chair；　in　which　sat　a　girl　well　wrapped　up　in　shawls；　then　followed　a　horse；　mounted　by　a　stately…looking　lady　who　was　looking　about　her　with　great　interest　and　talking　to　the　guide　who　walked　beside　her；　then　a　reclining　chair；　which　was　being　pushed　up　by　another　man；　it　having　evidently　been　thought　safer　to　send　the　invalid　to　whom　it　belonged　up　the　steep　path　in　a　sedan　chair。　The　procession　wound　up　with　a　porter；　with　such　a　bundle　of　cloaks；　shawls；　and　furs　on　his　back　that　it　rose　well　above　his　head。

〃Here　they　come！　here　they　come！〃　shouted　Heidi；　jumping　with　joy。　And　sure　enough　it　was　the　party　from　Frankfurt；　the　figures　came　nearer　and　nearer；　and　at　last　they　had　actually　arrived。　The　men　in　front　put　down　their　burden；　Heidi　rushed　forward　and　the　two　children　embraced　each　other　with　mutual　delight。　Grandmamma　having　also　reached　the　top；　dismounted；　and　gave　Heidi　an　affectionate　greeting；　before　turning　to　the　grandfather；　who　had　meanwhile　come　up　to　welcome　his　guests。　There　was　no　constraint　about　the　meeting；　for　they　both　knew　each　other　perfectly　well　from　hearsay　and　felt　like　old　acquaintances。

After　the　first　words　of　greeting　had　been　exchanged　grandmamma　broke　out　into　lively　expressions　of　admiration。　〃What　a　magnificent　residence　you　have；　Uncle！　I　could　hardly　have　believed　it　was　so　beautiful！　A　king　might　well　envy　you！　And　how　well　my　little　Heidi　lookslike　a　wild　rose！〃　she　continued；　drawing　the　child　towards　her　and　stroking　her　fresh　pink　cheeks。　〃I　don't　know　which　way　to　look　first；　it　is　all　so　lovely！　What　do　you　say　to　it；　Clara；　what　do　you　say？〃

Clara　was　gazing　round　entranced；　she　had　never　imagined；　much　less　seen；　anything　so　beautiful。　She　gave　vent　to　her　delight　in　cries　of　joy。　〃O　grandmamma；〃　she　said；　〃I　should　like　to　remain　here　for　ever。〃

The　grandfather　had　meanwhile　drawn　up　the　invalid　chair　and　spread　some　of　the　wraps　over　it；　he　now　went　up　to　Clara。

〃Supposing　we　carry　the　little　daughter　now　to　her　accustomed　chair；　I　think　she　will　be　more　comfortable；　the　travelling　sedan　is　rather　hard；〃　he　said；　and　without　waiting　for　any　one　to　help　him　he　lifted　the　child　in　his　strong　arms　and　laid　her　gently　down　on　her　own　couch。　He　then　covered　her　over　carefully　and　arranged　her　feet　on　the　soft　cushion；　as　if　he　had　never　done　anything　all　his　life　but　attend　on　cripples。　The　grandmamma　looked　on　with　surprise。

〃My　dear　Uncle；〃　she　exclaimed；　〃if　I　knew　where　you　had　learned　to　nurse　I　would　at　once　send　all　the　nurses　I　know　to　the　same　place　that　they　might　handle　their　patients　in　like　manner。　How　do　you　come　to　know　so　much？〃

Uncle　smiled。　〃I　know　more　from　experience　than　training；〃　he　answered；　but　as　he　spoke　the　smile　died　away　and　a　look　of　sadness　passed　over　his　face。　The　vision　rose　before　him　of　a　face　of　suffering　that　he　had　known　long　years　before；　the　face　of　a　man　lying　crippled　on　his　couch　of　pain；　and　unable　to　move　a　limb。　The　man　had　been　his　Captain　during　the　fierce　fighting　in　Sicily；　he　had　found　him　lying　wounded　and　had　carried　him　away；　and　after　that　the　captain　would　suffer　no　one　else　near　him；　and　Uncle　had　stayed　and　nursed　him　till　his　sufferings　ended　in　death。　It　all　came　back　to　Uncle　now；　and　it　see