heidi-第50章
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that grandmamma came up well provided for a winter's campaign； we shall be able to make good use of these。〃
〃Foresight is a virtue；〃 responded the lady； amused； 〃and prevents many misfortunes。 If we have made the journey over your mountains without meeting with storms； winds and cloud…bursts； we can only be thankful； which we are； and my provision against these disasters now comes in usefully； as you say。〃
The two had meanwhile ascended to the hay…loft and begun to prepare a bed； there were so many articles piled one over the other that when finished it looked like a regular little fortress。 Grandmamma passed her hand carefully over it to make sure there were no bits of hay sticking out。 〃If there's a bit that can come through it will；〃 she said。 The soft mattress； however； was so smooth and thick that nothing could penetrate it。 Then they went down again； well satisfied； and found the children laughing and talking together and arranging all they were going to do from morning till evening as long as Clara stayed。 The next question was how long she was to remain； and first grandmamma was asked； but she referred them to the grandfather； who gave it as his opinion that she ought to make the trial of the mountain air for at least a month。 The children clapped their hands for joy； for they had not expected to be together for so long a time。
The bearers and the horse and guide were now seen approaching； the former were sent back at once； and grandmamma prepared to mount for her return journey。
〃It's not saying good…bye； grandmamma；〃 Clara called out； 〃for you will come up now and then and see how we are getting on； and we shall so look forward to your visits； shan't we； Heidi？〃
Heidi； who felt that life this day had been crowded with pleasures； could only respond to Clara with another jump of joy。
Grandmamma being now seated on her sturdy animal； Uncle took the bridle to lead her down the steep mountain path； she begged him not to come far with her； but he insisted on seeing her safely as far as Dorfli； for the way was precipitous and not without danger for the rider； he said。
Grandmamma did not care to stay alone in Dorfli； and therefore decided to return to Ragatz； and thence to make excursions up the mountain from time to time。
Peter came down with his goats before Uncle had returned。 As soon as the animals caught sight of Heidi they all came flocking towards her； and she； as well as Clara on her couch； were soon surrounded by the goats； pushing and poking their heads one over the other； while Heidi introduced each in turn by its name to her friend Clara。
It was not long before the latter had made the long…wished…for acquaintance of little Snowflake； the lively Greenfinch； and the well…behaved goats belonging to grandfather； as well as of the many others； including the Grand Turk。 Peter meanwhile stood apart looking on； and casting somewhat unfriendly glances towards Clara。
When the two children called out； 〃Good…evening； Peter；〃 he made no answer； but swung up his stick angrily； as if wanting to cut the air in two； and then ran off with his goats after him。
The climax to all the beautiful things that Clara had already seen upon the mountain came at the close of the day。
As she lay on the large soft bed in the hay loft； with Heidi near her； she looked out through the round open window right into the middle of the shining clusters of stars； and she exclaimed in delight；
〃Heidi； it's just as if we were in a high carriage and were going to drive straight into heaven。〃
〃Yes； and do you know why the stars are so happy and look down and nod to us like that？〃 asked Heidi。
〃No； why is it？〃 Clara asked in return。
〃Because they live up in heaven； and know how well God arranges everything for us； so that we need have no more fear or trouble and may be quite sure that all things will come right in the end。 That's why they are so happy； and they nod to us because they want us to be happy too。 But then we must never forget to pray； and to ask God to remember us when He is arranging things； so that we too may feel safe and have no anxiety about what is going to happen。〃
The two children now sat up and said their prayers； and then Heidi put her head down on her little round arm and fell off to sleep at once； but Clara lay awake some time； for she could not get over the wonder of this new experience of being in bed up here among the stars。 She had indeed seldom seen a star； for she never went outside the house at night； and the curtains at home were always drawn before the stars came out。 Each time she closed her eyes she felt she must open them again to see if the two very large stars were still looking in； and nodding to her as Heidi said they did。 There they were； always in the same place； and Clara felt she could not look long enough into their bright sparkling faces； until at last her eyes closed of their own accord； and it was only in her dreams that she still saw the two large friendly stars shining down upon her。
CHAPTER XXI。 HOW LIFE WENT ON AT GRANDFATHER'S
The sun had just risen above the mountains and was shedding its first golden rays over the hut and the valley below。 Alm…Uncle； as was his custom； had been standing in a quiet and； devout attitude for some little while； watching the light mists gradually lifting； and the heights and valley emerging from their twilight shadows and awakening to another day。
The light morning clouds overhead grew brighter and brighter； till at last the sun shone out in its full glory； and rock and wood and hill lay bathed in golden light。
Uncle now stepped back into the hut and went softly up the ladder。 Clara had just opened her eyes and was looking with wonder at the bright sunlight that shone through the round window and danced and sparkled about her bed。 She could not at first think what she was looking at or where she was。 Then she caught sight of Heidi sleeping beside her； and now she heard the grandfather's cheery voice asking her if she had slept well and was feeling rested。 She assured him she was not tired； and that when she had once fallen asleep she had not opened her eyes again all night。 The grandfather was satisfied at this and immediately began to attend upon her with so much gentleness and understanding that it seemed as if his chief calling had been to look after sick children。
Heidi now awoke and was surprised to see Clara dressed； and already in the grandfather's arms ready to be carried down。 She must be up too； and she went through her toilette with lightning…like speed。 She ran down the ladder and out of the hut； and there further astonishment awaited her； for grandfather had been busy the night before after they were in bed。 Seeing that it was impossible to get Clara's chair through the hut…door； he had taken down two of the boards at the side of the shed and made an opening large enough to admit the chair； these he left loose so that they could be taken away and put up at pleasure。 He was at this moment wheeling Clara out into the sun； he left her in front of the hut while he went to look after the goats； and Heidi ran up to her friend。
The fresh morning breeze blew round the children's faces； and every fresh puff brought a waft of fragrance from the fir trees。 Clara drew it in with delight and lay back in her chair with an unaccustomed feeling of health and comfort。
It was the first time in her life that she had been out in the open country at this early hour and felt the fresh morning breeze； and the pure mountain air was so cool and refreshing that every breath she drew was a pleasure。 And then the bright sweet sun； which was not hot and sultry up here； but lay soft and warm on her hands and on the grass at her feet。 Clara had not imagined that it would be like this on the mountain。
〃O Heidi； if only I could stay up here for ever with you；〃 she exclaimed happily； turning in her chair from side to side that she might drink in the air and sun from all quarters。
〃Now you see that it is just what I told you；〃 replied Heidi delighted； 〃that it is the most beautiful thing in the world to be up here with grandfather。〃
The latter at that moment appeared coming from the goat shed and bringing two small foamin
