heidi-第49章
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stayed and nursed him till his sufferings ended in death。 It all came back to Uncle now； and it seemed natural to him to attend on the sick Clara and to show her all those kindly attentions with which he had been once so familiar。
The sky spread blue and cloudless over the hut and the fir trees and far above over the high rocks； the grey summits of which glistened in the sun。 Clara could not feast her eyes enough on all the beauty around her。
〃O Heidi； if only I could walk about with you；〃 she said longingly； 〃if I could but go and look at the fir trees and at everything I know so well from your description； although I have never been here before。〃
Heidi in response put out all her strength； and after a slight effort； managed to wheel Clara's chair quite easily round the hut to the fir trees。 There they paused。 Clara had never seen such trees before； with their tall； straight stems； and long thick branches growing thicker and thicker till they touched the ground。 Even the grandmamma； who had followed the children； was astonished at the sight of them。 She hardly knew what to admire most in these ancient trees： the lofty tops rising in their full green splendor towards the sky； or the pillar…like stems； with their straight and gigantic boughs； that spoke of such antiquity of age； of such long years during which they had looked down upon the valley below； where men came and went； and all things were continually changing； while they stood undisturbed and changeless。
Heidi had now wheeled Clara on to the goat shed； and had flung open the door； so that Clara might have a full view of all that was inside。 There was not much to see just now as its indwellers were absent。 Clara lamented to her grandmother that they would have to leave early before the goats came home。 〃I should so like to have seen Peter and his whole flock。〃
〃Dear child； let us enjoy all the beautiful things that we can see； and not think about those that we cannot；〃 grandmamma replied as she followed the chair which Heidi was pushing further on。
〃Oh； the flowers！〃 exclaimed Clara。 〃Look at the bushes of red flowers； and all the nodding blue bells！ Oh； if I could but get but and pick some！〃
Heidi ran off at once and picked her a large nosegay of them。
〃But these are nothing； Clara；〃 she said； laying the flowers on her lap。 〃If you could come up higher to where the goats are feeding； then you would indeed see something！ Bushes on bushes of the red centaury； and ever so many more of the blue bell…flowers； and then the bright yellow rock roses； that gleam like pure gold； and all crowding together in the one spot。 And then there are others with the large leaves that grandfather calls Bright Eyes； and the brown ones with little round heads that smell so delicious。 Oh； it is beautiful up there； and if you sit down among them you never want to get up again； everything looks and smells so lovely！〃
Heidi's eyes sparkled with the remembrance of what she was describing； she was longing herself to see it all again； and Clara caught her enthusiasm and looked back at her with equal longing in her soft blue eyes。
〃Grandmamma； do you think I could get up there？ Is it possible for me to go？〃 she asked eagerly。 〃If only I could walk； climb about everywhere with you； Heidi！〃
〃I am sure I could push you up； the chair goes so easily；〃 said Heidi； and in proof of her words； she sent the chair at such a pace round the corner that it nearly went flying down the mountain…side。 Grandmamma being at hand； however； stopped it in time。
The grandfather； meantime； had not been idle。 He had by this time put the table and extra chairs in front of the seat； so that they might all sit out here and eat the dinner that was preparing inside。 The milk and the cheese were soon ready； and then the company sat down in high spirits to their mid…day meal。
Grandmamma was enchanted； as the doctor had been； with their dining…room； whence one could see far along the valley； and far over the mountains to the farthest stretch of blue sky。 A light wind blew refreshingly over them as they sat at table； and the rustling of the fir trees made a festive accompaniment to the repast。
〃I never enjoyed anything as much as this。 It is really superb！〃 cried grandmamma two or three times over； and then suddenly in a tone of surprise；
〃Do I really see you taking a second piece of toasted cheese； Clara！〃
There； sure enough； was a second golden…colored slice of cheese on Clara's plate。
〃Oh； it does taste so nice； grandmammabetter than all the dishes we have at Ragatz；〃 replied Clara； as she continued eating with appetite。
〃That's right； eat what you can！〃 exclaimed Uncle。 〃It's the mountain air which makes up for the deficiencies of the kitchen。〃
And so the meal went on。 Grandmamma and Alm…Uncle got on very well together； and their conversation became more and more lively。 They were so thoroughly agreed in their opinions of men and things and the world in general that they might have been taken for old cronies。 The time passed merrily； and then grandmamma looked towards the west and said；
〃We must soon get ready to go； Clara； the sun is a good way down； the men will be here directly with the horse and sedan。〃
Clara's face fell and she said beseechingly； 〃Oh； just another hour； grandmamma； or two hours。 We haven't seen inside the hut yet； or Heidi's bed； or any of the other things。 If only the day was ten hours long！〃
〃Well； that is not possible；〃 said grandmamma； but she herself was anxious to see inside the hut； so they all rose from the table and Uncle wheeled Clara's chair to the door。 But there they came to a standstill； for the chair was much too broad to pass through the door。 Uncle； however； soon settled the difficulty by lifting Clara in his strong arms and carrying her inside。
Grandmamma went all round and examined the household arrangements； and was very much amused and pleased at their orderliness and the cozy appearance of everything。 〃And this is your bedroom up here； Heidi； is it not？〃 she asked； as without trepidation she mounted the ladder to the hay loft。 〃Oh； it does smell sweet； what a healthy place to sleep in。〃 She went up to the round window and looked out； and grandfather followed up with Clara in his arms； Heidi springing up after them。 Then they all stood and examined Heidi's wonderful hay…bed； and grandmamma looked thoughtfully at it and drew in from time to time fragrant draughts of the hay…perfumed air； while Clara was charmed beyond words with Heidi's sleeping apartment。
〃It is delightful for you up here； Heidi！ You can look from your bed straight into the sky； and then such a delicious smell all round you！ and outside the fir trees waving and rustling！ I have never seen such a pleasant； cheerful bedroom before。
Uncle looked across at the grandmamma。 〃I have been thinking；〃 he said to her； 〃that if you were willing to agree to it； your little granddaughter might remain up here； and I am sure she would grow stronger。 You have brought up all kinds of shawls and covers with you； and we could make up a soft bed out of them； and as to the general looking after the child； you need have no fear； for I will see to that。〃 Clara and Heidi were as overjoyed at these words as if they were two birds let out of their cages； and grandmamma's face beamed with satisfaction。
〃You are indeed kind； my dear Uncle；〃 she exclaimed； 〃you give words to the thought that was in my own mind。 I was only asking myself whether a stay up here might not be the very thing she wanted。 But then the trouble； the inconvenience to yourself！ And you speak of nursing and looking after her as if it was a mere nothing！ I thank you sincerely； I thank you from my whole heart； Uncle。〃 And she took his hand and gave it a long and grateful shake； which he returned with a pleased expression of countenance。
Uncle immediately set to work to get things ready。 He carried Clara back to her chair outside； Heidi following； not knowing how to jump high enough into the air to express her contentment。 Then he gathered up a whole pile of shawls and furs and said； smiling； 〃It is a good thing that grandmamma came up well provided for a winter's campaign； we shall be able to make good use of
