heidi-第5章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


corner　near　her　grandfather's　bed　she　saw　a　short　ladder　against　the　wall；　up　she　climbed　and　found　herself　in　the　hayloft。　There　lay　a　large　heap　of　fresh　sweet…smelling　hay；　while　through　a　round　window　in　the　wall　she　could　see　right　down　the　valley。

〃I　shall　sleep　up　here；　grandfather；〃　she　called　down　to　him；　〃It's　lovely；　up　here。　Come　up　and　see　how　lovely　it　is！〃

〃Oh；　I　know　all　about　it；〃　he　called　up　in　answer。

〃I　am　getting　the　bed　ready　now；〃　she　called　down　again；　as　she　went　busily　to　and　fro　at　her　work；　〃but　I　shall　want　you　to　bring　me　up　a　sheet；　you　can't　have　a　bed　without　a　sheet；　you　want　it　to　lie　upon。〃

〃All　right；〃　said　the　grandfather；　and　presently　he　went　to　the　cupboard；　and　after　rummaging　about　inside　for　a　few　minutes　he　drew　out　a　long；　coarse　piece　of　stuff；　which　was　all　he　had　to　do　duty　for　a　sheet。　He　carried　it　up　to　the　loft；　where　he　found　Heidi　had　already　made　quite　a　nice　bed。　She　had　put　an　extra　heap　of　hay　at　one　end　for　a　pillow；　and　had　so　arranged　it　that；　when　in　bed；　she　would　be　able　to　see　comfortably　out　through　the　round　window。

〃That　is　capital；〃　said　her　grandfather；　〃now　we　must　put　on　the　sheet；　but　wait　a　moment　first；〃　and　he　went　and　fetched　another　large　bundle　of　hay　to　make　the　bed　thicker；　so　that　the　child　should　not　feel　the　hard　floor　under　her〃there；　now　bring　it　here。〃　Heidi　had　got　hold　of　the　sheet；　but　it　was　almost　too　heavy　for　her　to　carry；　this　was　a　good　thing；　however；　as　the　close　thick　stuff　would　prevent　the　sharp　stalks　of　the　hay　running　through　and　pricking　her。　The　two　together　now　spread　the　sheet　over　the　bed；　and　where　it　was　too　long　or　too　broad；　Heidi　quickly　tucked　it　in　under　the　hay。　It　looked　now　as　tidy　and　comfortable　a　bed　as　you　could　wish　for；　and　Heidi　stood　gazing　thoughtfully　at　her　handiwork。

〃We　have　forgotten　something　now；　grandfather；〃　she　said　after　a　short　silence。

〃What's　that？〃　he　asked。

A　coverlid；　when　you　get　into　bed；　you　have　to　creep　in　between　the　sheets　and　the　coverlid。〃

〃Oh；　that's　the　way；　is　it？　But　suppose　I　have　not　got　a　coverlid？〃　said　the　old　man。

〃Well；　never　mind；　grandfather；〃　said　Heidi　in　a　consoling　tone　of　voice；　〃I　can　take　some　more　hay　to　put　over　me；〃　and　she　was　turning　quickly　to　fetch　another　armful　from　the　heap；　when　her　grandfather　stopped　her。　〃Wait　a　moment；〃　he　said；　and　he　climbed　down　the　ladder　again　and　went　towards　his　bed。　He　returned　to　the　loft　with　a　large；　thick　sack；　made　of　flax；　which　he　threw　down；　exclaiming；　There；　that　is　better　than　hay；　is　it　not？〃

Heidi　began　tugging　away　at　the　sack　with　all　her　little　might；　in　her　efforts　to　get　it　smooth　and　straight；　but　her　small　hands　were　not　fitted　for　so　heavy　a　job。　Her　grandfather　came　to　her　assistance；　and　when　they　had　got　it　tidily　spread　over　the　bed；　it　all　looked　so　nice　and　warm　and　comfortable　that　Heidi　stood　gazing　at　it　in　delight。　〃That　is　a　splendid　coverlid；〃　she　said；　〃and　the　bed　looks　lovely　altogether！　I　wish　it　was　night；　so　that　I　might　get　inside　it　at　once。〃

〃I　think　we　might　have　something　to　eat　first；〃　said　the　grandfather；　〃what　do　you　think？〃

Heidi　in　the　excitement　of　bed…making　had　forgotten　everything　else；　but　now　when　she　began　to　think　about　food　she　felt　terribly　hungry；　for　she　had　had　nothing　to　eat　since　the　piece　of　bread　and　little　cup　of　thin　coffee　that　had　been　her　breakfast　early　that　morning　before　starting　on　her　long；　hot　journey。　So　she　answered　without　hesitation；　〃Yes；　I　think　so　too。〃

〃Let　us　go　down　then；　as　we　both　think　alike；〃　said　the　old　man；　and　he　followed　the　child　down　the　ladder。　Then　he　went　up　to　the　hearth；　pushed　the　big　kettle　aside；　and　drew　forward　the　little　one　that　was　hanging　on　the　chain；　and　seating　himself　on　the　round…topped；　three…legged　stool　before　the　fire；　blew　it　up　into　a　clear　bright　flame。　The　kettle　soon　began　to　boil；　and　meanwhile　the　old　man　held　a　large　piece　of　cheese　on　a　long　iron　fork　over　the　fire；　turning　it　round　and　round　till　it　was　toasted　a　nice　golden　yellow　color　on　each　side。　Heidi　watched　all　that　was　going　on　with　eager　curiosity。　Suddenly　some　new　idea　seemed　to　come　into　her　head；　for　she　turned　and　ran　to　the　cupboard；　and　then　began　going　busily　backwards　and　forwards。　Presently　the　grandfather　got　up　and　came　to　the　table　with　a　jug　and　the　cheese；　and　there　he　saw　it　already　tidily　laid　with　the　round　loaf　and　two　plates　and　two　knives　each　in　its　right　place；　for　Heidi　had　taken　exact　note　that　morning　of　all　that　there　was　in　the　cupboard；　and　she　knew　which　things　would　be　wanted　for　their　meal。

〃Ah；　that's　right；〃　said　the　grandfather；　〃I　am　glad　to　see　that　you　have　some　ideas　of　your　own；〃　and　as　he　spoke　he　laid　the　toasted　cheese　on　a　layer　of　bread；　〃but　there　is　still　something　missing。〃

Heidi　looked　at　the　jug　that　was　steaming　away　invitingly；　and　ran　quickly　back　to　the　cupboard。　At　first　she　could　only　see　a　small　bowl　left　on　the　shelf；　but　she　was　not　long　in　perplexity；　for　a　moment　later　she　caught　sight　of　two　glasses…further　back；　and　without　an　instant's　loss　of　time　she　returned　with　these　and　the　bowl　and　put　them　down　on　the　table。

〃Good；　I　see　you　know　how　to　set　about　things；　but　what　will　you　do　for　a　seat？〃　The　grandfather　himself　was　sitting　on　the　only　chair　in　the　room。　Heidi　flew　to　the　hearth；　and　dragging　the　three…legged　stool　up　to　the　table；　sat　herself　down　upon　it。

Well；　you　have　managed　to　find　a　seat　for　yourself；　I　see；　only　rather　a　low　one　I　am　afraid；〃　said　the　grandfather；　〃but　you　would　not　be　tall　enough　to　reach　the　table　even　if　you　sat　in　my　chair；　the　first　thing　now；　however；　is　to　have　something　to　eat；　so　come　along。〃

With　that　he　stood　up；　filled　the　bowl　with　milk；　and　placing　it　on　the　chair；　pushed　it　in　front　of　Heidi　on　her　little　three…legged　stool；　so　that　she　now　had　a　table　to　herself。　Then　he　brought　her　a　large　slice　of　bread　and　a　piece　of　the　golden　cheese；　and　told　her　to　eat。　After　which　he　went　and　sat　down　on　the　corner　of　the　table　and　began　his　own　meal。　Heidi　lifted　the　bowl　with　both　hands　and　drank　without　pause　till　it　was　empty；　for　the　thirst　of　all　her　long　hot　journey　had　returned　upon　her。　Then　she　drew　a　deep　breathin　the　eagerness　of　her　thirst　she　had　not　stopped　to　breatheand　put　down　the　bowl。

〃Was　the　milk　nice？〃　asked　her　grandfather。

〃I　never　drank　any　so　good　before；〃　answered　Heidi。

〃Then　you　must　have　some　more；〃　and　the　old　man　filled　her　bowl　again　to　the　brim　and　set　it　before　the　child；　who　was　now　hungrily　beginning　her　bread　having　first　spread　it　with　the　cheese；　which　after　being　toasted　was　soft　as　butter；　the　two　together　tasted　deliciously；　and　the　child　looked　the　picture　of　content　as　she　sat　eating；　and　at　intervals　taking　further　draughts　of　milk。　The　meal　being　over；　the　grandfather　went　outside　to　put　the　goat…shed　in　order；　and　Heidi　watched　with　interest　while　he　first　swept　it　out；　and　then　put　fresh　straw　for　the　goats　to　sleep　upon。　Then　he　went　to　the　little　well…shed；　and　there　he　cut　some　long　round　sticks；　and　a　small　round　board；　in　this　he　bored　some　holes　and　stuck　the　sticks　into　them；　and　there；　as　if　made　by　magic；　was　a　three…legged　stool　just　like　her　grandfather's；　only　higher。　Heidi　stood　and　looked　at　it；　speechless　with　astonishment。

〃What　do　you　think　that　is？〃　asked　her　grandfather。

〃It's　my　stool；　I　know；　because　it　is　such　a　high　one；　and　it　was　made　all　of　a　minute；〃　said　the　child；　still　lost　in　wonder　and　admiration。

〃She　understands　what　she　sees；　her　eyes　are　in　the　right　place；〃　remarked　the　grandfather　to　himself；　as　he　continued　his　way　round　the　hut；　knocking　in　a　nail　here　and　there；　or　making　fast　some　part　of　the　door；　and　so　with　hammer　and　nails　and　pieces　of　wood　going　from　spot　to　spot；　mending　or　clearing　away　wherever　work　of　the　kind　was　needed。　Heidi　followed　him　step　by　step；　her　eyes　attentively　taking　in　all　that　he　did；　and　everything　that　she　saw　was　a　fresh　source　of　pleasure　to　her。

And　so　the　time　passed　happily　on　till　evening。　Then　the　wind　began　to　roar　louder　than　ever　through　the　old　fir　trees；　Heidi　listened　with　delight　to　the　sound；　and　it　filled　her　heart　so　full