heidi-第52章
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out of the window； for he knew what pleasure they had in the light from the sun and stars。
Meanwhile grandmamma down at Ragatz was rejoicing at the excellent news of the invalid which reached her daily from the mountain。 Clara found the life more charming each day and could not say enough of the kindness and care which the grandfather lavished upon her； nor of Heidi's lively and amusing companionship； for the latter was more entertaining even than when in Frankfurt with her； and Clara's first thought when she woke each morning was； 〃Oh； how glad I am to be here still。〃
Having such fresh assurances each day that all was going well with Clara； grandmamma thought she might put off her visit to the children a little longer； for the steep ride up and down was somewhat of a fatigue to her。
The grandfather seemed to feel an especial sympathy for this little invalid charge； for he tried to think of something fresh every day to help forward her recovery。 He climbed up the mountain every afternoon； higher and higher each day； and came home in the evening with a large bunch of leaves which scented the air with a mingled fragrance as of carnations and thyme； even from afar。 He hung it up in the goat shed； and the goats on their return were wild to get at it； for they recognised the smell。 But Uncle did not go climbing after rare plants to give the goats the pleasure of eating them without any trouble of finding them； what he gathered was for Little Swan alone； that she might give extra fine milk； and the effect of the extra feeding was shown in the way she flung her head in the air with ever…increasing frolicsomeness； and in the bright glow of her eye。
Clara had now been on the mountain for three weeks。 For some days past the grandfather； each morning after carrying her down； had said； 〃Won't the little daughter try if she can stand for a minute or two？〃 And Clara had made the effort in order to please him； but had clung to him as soon as her feet touched the ground； exclaiming that it hurt her so。 He let her try a little longer； however； each day。
It was many years since they had had such a splendid summer among the mountains。 Day after day there were the same cloudless sky and brilliant sun； the flowers opened wide their fragrant blossoms； and everywhere the eye was greeted with a glow of color； and when the evening came the crimson light fell on mountain peaks and on the great snow…field； till at last the sun sank in a sea of golden flame。
And Heidi never tired of telling Clara of all this； for only higher up could the full glory of the colors be rightly seen； and more particularly did she dwell on the beauty of the spot on the higher slope of the mountain； where the bright golden rock…roses grew in masses； and the blue flowers were in such numbers that the very grass seemed to have turned blue； while near these were whole bushes of the brown blossoms； with their delicious scent； so that you never wanted to move again when you once sat down among them。
She had just been expatiating on the flowers as she sat with Clara under the fir trees one evening； and had been telling her again of the wonderful light from the evening sun； when such an irrepressible longing came over her to see it all once more that the jumped up and ran to her grandfather； who was in the shed； calling out almost before she was inside；
〃Grandfather； will you take us out with the goats to…morrow？ Oh； it is so lovely up there now！〃
〃Very well；〃 he answered； 〃but if I do； the little daughter must do something to please me： she must try her best again this evening to stand on her feet。〃
Heidi ran back with the good news to Clara； and the latter promised to try her very best as the grandfather wished； for she looked forward immensely to the next day's excursion。 Heidi was so pleased and excited that she called out to Peter as soon as she caught sight of him that evening；
〃Peter； Peter； we are all coming out with you to…morrow and are going to stay up there the whole day。〃
Peter； cross as a bear； grumbled some reply； and lifted his stick to give Greenfinch a blow for no reason in particular； but Greenfinch saw the movement； and with a leap over Snowflake's back she got out of the way； and the stick only hit the air。
Clara and Heidi got into their two fine beds that night full of delightful anticipation of the morrow； they were so full of their plans that they agreed to keep awake all night and talk over them until they might venture to get up。 But their heads had no sooner touched their soft pillows than the conversation suddenly ceased； and Clara fell into a dream of an immense field； which looked the color of the sky； so thickly inlaid was it with blue bell…shaped flowers； and Heidi heard the great bird of prey calling to her from the heights above； 〃Come！ come！ come！〃
CHAPTER XXII。 SOMETHING UNEXPECTED HAPPENS
Uncle went out early the next morning to see what kind of a day it was going to be。 There was a reddish gold light over the higher peaks； a light breeze springing up and the branches of the fir trees moved gently to and fro the sun was on its way。
The old man stood and watched the green slopes under the higher peaks gradually growing brighter with the coming day and the dark shadows lifting from the valley； until at first a rosy light filled its hollows； and then the morning gold flooded every height and depththe sun had risen。
Uncle wheeled the chair out of the shed ready for the coming journey； and then went in to call the children and tell them what a lovely sunrise it was。
Peter came up at this moment。 The goats did not gather round him so trustfully as usual； but seemed to avoid him timidly； for Peter had reached a high pitch of anger and bitterness； and was laying about him with his stick very unnecessarily； and where it fell the blow was no light one。 For weeks now he had not had Heidi all to himself as formerly。 When he came up in the morning the invalid child was always already in her chair and Heidi fully occupied with her。 And it was the same thing over again when he came down in the evening。 She had not come out with the goats once this summer； and now to…day she was only coming in company with her friend and the chair； and would stick by the latter's side the whole time。 It was the thought of this which was making him particularly cross this morning。 There stood the chair on its high wheels； Peter seemed to see something proud and distainful about it； and he glared at it as at an enemy that had done him harm and was likely to do him more still to…day。 He glanced roundthere was no sound anywhere； no one to see him。 He sprang forward like a wild creature； caught hold of it； and gave it a violent and angry push in the direction of the slope。 The chair rolled swiftly forward and in another minute had disappeared。
Peter now sped up the mountain as if on wings； not pausing till he was well in shelter of a large blackberrybush； for he had no wish to be seen by Uncle。 But he was anxious to see what had become of the chair； and his bush was well placed for that。 Himself hidden； he could watch what happened below and see what Uncle did without being discovered himself。 So he looked； and there he saw his enemy running faster and faster down hill； then it turned head over heels several times； and finally； after one great bound； rolled over and over to its complete destruction。 The pieces flew in every directionfeet； arms； and torn fragments of the padded seat and bolsterand Peter experienced a feeling of such unbounded delight at the sight that he leapt in the air； laughing aloud and stamping for joy； then he took a run round； jumping over bushes on the way； only to return to the same spot and fall into fresh fits of laughter。 He was beside himself with satisfaction； for he could see only good results for himself in this disaster to his enemy。 Now Heidi's friend would be obliged to go away； for she would have no means of going about； and when Heidi was alone again she would come out with him as in the old days； and everything would go on in the proper way again。 But Peter did not consider； or did not know； that when we do a wrong thing trouble is sure to follow。
Heidi now came running out of the hut and rou
