heidi-第6章
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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 of gladness that she skipped and danced round the old trees； as if some unheard of joy had come to her。 The grandfather stood and watched her from the shed。
Suddenly a shrill whistle was heard。 Heidi paused in her dancing； and the grandfather came out。 Down from the heights above the goats came springing one after another； with Peter in their midst。 Heidi sprang forward with a cry of joy and rushed among the flock； greeting first one and then another of her old friends of the morning。 As they neared the hut the goats stood still； and then two of their number； two beautiful slender animals； one white and one brown； ran forward to where the grandfather was standing and began licking his hands； for he was holding a little salt which he always had ready for his goats on their return home。 Peter disappeared with the remainder of his flock。 Heidi tenderly stroked the two goats in turn； running first to one side of them and then the other； and jumping about in her glee at the pretty little animals。 〃Are they ours； grandfather？ Are they both ours？ Are you going to put them in the shed？ Will they always stay with us？〃
Heidi's questions came tumbling out one after the other； so that her grandfather had only time to answer each of them with 〃Yes； yes。〃 When the goats had finished licking up the salt her grandfather told her to go and fetch her bowl and the bread。
Heidi obeyed and was soon back again。 The grandfather milked the white goat and filled her basin； and then breaking off a piece of bread； 〃Now eat your supper；〃 he said； 〃and then go up to bed。 Cousin Dete left another little bundle for you with a nightgown and other small things in it； which you will find at the bottom of the cupboard if you want them。 I must go and shut up the goats； so be off and sleep well。〃
〃Good…night； grandfather！ good…night。 What are their names； grandfather； what are their names？〃 she called out as she ran after his retreating figure and the goats。
〃The white one is named Little Swan； and the brown one Little Bear；〃 he answered。
〃Good…night； Little Swan； good…night； Little Bear！〃 she called again at the top of her voice； for they were already inside the shed。 Then she sat down on the seat and began to eat and drink； but the wind was so strong that it almost blew her away； so she made haste and finished her supper and then went indoors and climbed up to her bed； where she was soon lying as sweetly and soundly asleep as any young princess on her couch of silk。
Not long after； and while it was still twilight； the grandfather also went to bed； for he was up every morning at sunrise； and the sun came climbing up over the mountains at a very early hour during these summer months。 The wind grew so tempestuous during the night； and blew in such gusts against the walls； that the hut trembled and the old beams groaned and creaked。 It came howling and wailing down the chimney like voices of those in pain； and it raged with such fury among the old fir trees that here and there a branch was snapped and fell。 In the middle of the night the old man got up。 〃The child will be frightened；〃 he murmured half aloud。 He mounted the ladder and went and stood by the child's bed。
Outside the moon was struggling with the dark； fast…driving clouds； which at one moment left it clear and shining； and the next swept over it； and all again was dark。 Just now the moonlight was falling through the round window straight on to Heidi's bed。 She lay under the heavy coverlid； her cheeks rosy with sleep； her head peacefully resting on her little round arm； and with a happy expression on her baby face as if dreaming of something pleasant。 The old man stood looking down on the sleeping child until the moon again disappeared behind the clouds and he could see no more； then he went back to bed。
CHAPTER III。 OUT WITH THE GOATS
Heidi was awakened early the next morning by a loud whistle； the sun was shining through the round window and failing in golden rays on her bed and on the large heap of hay； and as she opened her eyes everything in the loft seemed gleaming with gold。 She looked around her in astonishment and could not imagine for a while where she was。 But her grandfather's deep voice was now heard outside； and then Heidi began to recall all that had happened： how she had come away from her former home and was now on the mountain with her grandfather instead of with old Ursula。 The latter was nearly stone deaf and always felt cold； so that she sat all day either by the hearth in the kitchen or by the sitting…room stove； and Heidi had been obliged to stay close to her； for the old woman was so deaf that she could not tell where the child was if out of her sight。 And Heidi； shut up within the four walls； had often longed to be out of doors。 So she felt very happy this morning as she woke up in her new home and remembered all the many new things that she had seen the day before and which she would see again that day； and above all she thought with delight of the two dear goats。 Heidi jumped quickly out of bed and a very few minutes sufficed her to put on the clothes which she had taken off the night before； for there were not many of them。 Then she climbed down the ladder and ran outside the hut。 There stood Peter already with his flock of goats； and the grandfather was just bringing his two out of the shed to join the others。 Heidi ran forward to wish good…morning to him and the goats。
〃Do you want to go with them on to the mountain？〃 asked her grandfather。 Nothing could have pleased Heidi better； and she jumped for joy in answer。
〃But you must first wash and make yourself tidy。 The sun that shines so brightly overhead will else laugh at you for being dirty； see； I have put everything ready for you；〃 and her grandfather pointed as he spoke to a large tub full of water； which stood in the sun before the door。 Heidi ran to it and began splashing and rubbing； till she quite glistened with cleanliness。 The grandfather meanwhile went inside the hut； calling to Peter to follow him and bring in his wallet。 Peter obeyed with astonishment； and laid down the little bag which held his meagre dinner。
〃Open it；〃 said the old man； and inside it he put a large piece of bread and an equally large piece of cheese； which made Peter open his eyes； for each was twice the size of the two portions which he had for his own dinner。
〃There； now there is only the little bowl to add；〃 continued the grandfather； 〃for the child cannot drink her milk as you do from the goat； she is not accustomed to that。 You must milk two bowlfuls for her when she has her dinner； for she is going with you and will remain with you till you return this evening； but take care she does not fall over any of the rocks； do you hear？〃
Heidi now came running in。 〃Will the sun laugh at me now； grandfather？〃 she asked anxiously。 Her grandfather had left a coarse towel hanging up for her near the tub； and with this she had so thoroughly scrubbed her face； arms； and neck； for fear of the sun； that as she stood there she was as red all over as a lobster。 He gave a little laugh。
〃No； there is nothing for him to laugh at now；〃 he assured her。 〃But I tell you whatwhen you come home this evening； you will have to get right into the tub； like a fish； for if you run about like the goats you will get your feet dirty。 Now you can be off。〃
She started joyfully for the mountain。 During the night the wind had blown away all the clouds； the dark blue sky was spreading overhead； and in its midst was the bright sun shining down on the green slopes of the mountain； where the flowers opened their little blue and yellow cups； and looked up to him smiling。 Heidi went running hither and thither and shouting with delight； for here were whole patches of delicate red primroses； and there the blue gleam of the lovely gentian； while above them all laughed and nodded the tender…leaved golden cistus。 Enchanted with all this waving field of brightly…colored flowers； Heidi forgot even Peter and the goats。 She ran on in front and then off t
