heidi- 第12部分

〃I　am　only　just　going　over　to　Frankfurt　for　a　little　visit　with　Dete；〃　she　replied；　〃but　I　must　first　run　in　to　grandmother；　she　will　be　expecting　me。〃

〃No；　no；　you　must　not　stop　to　talk；　it　is　already　too　late；〃　said　Dete；　holding　Heidi；　who　was　struggling　to　get　away；　fast　by　the　hand。　〃You　can　go　in　when　you　come　back；　you　must　come　along　now；〃　and　she　pulled　the　child　on　with　her；　fearing　that　if　she　let　her　go　in　Heidi　might　take　it　into　her　head　again　that　she　did　not　wish　to　come；　and　that　the　grandmother　might　stand　by　her。　Peter　ran　into　the　hut　and　banged　against　the　table　with　his　bundle　of　sticks　with　such　violence　that　everything　in　the　room　shook；　and　his　grandmother　leaped　up　with　a　cry　of　alarm　from　her　spinning…wheel。　Peter　had　felt　that　he　must　give　vent　to　his　feelings　somehow。

〃What　is　the　matter？　What　is　the　matter？〃　cried　the　frightened　old　woman；　while　his　mother；　who　had　also　started　up　from　her　seat　at　the　shock；　said　in　her　usual　patient　manner；　〃What　is　it；　Peter？　why　do　you　behave　so　roughly？〃

〃Because　she　is　taking　Heidi　away；〃　explained　Peter。

〃Who？　who？　where　to；　Peter；　where　to？〃　asked　the　grandmother；　growing　still　more　agitated；　but　even　as　she　spoke　she　guessed　what　had　happened；　for　Brigitta　had　told　her　shortly　before　that　she　had　seen　Dete　going　up　to　Alm…Uncle。　The　old　woman　rose　hastily　and　with　trembling　hands　opened　the　window　and　called　out　beseechingly；　〃Dete；　Dete；　do　not　take　the　child　away　from　us！　do　not　take　her　away！〃

The　two　who　were　hastening　down　the　mountain　heard　her　voice；　and　Dete　evidently　caught　the　words；　for　she　grasped　Heidi's　hand　more　firmly。　Heidi　struggled　to　get　free；　crying；　〃Grandmother　is　calling；　I　must　go　to　her。〃

But　Dete　had　no　intention　of　letting　the　child　go；　and　quieted　her　as　best　she　could；　they　must　make　haste　now；　she　said；　or　they　would　be　too　late　and　not　able　to　go　on　the　next　day　to　Frankfurt；　and　there　the　child　would　see　how　delightful　it　was；　and　Dete　was　sure　would　not　wish　to　go　back　when　she　was　once　there。　But　if　Heidi　wanted　to　return　home　she　could　do　so　at　once；　and　then　she　could　take　something　she　liked　back　to　grandmother。　This　was　a　new　idea　to　Heidi；　and　it　pleased　her　so　much　that　Dete　had　no　longer　any　difficulty　in　getting　her　along。

After　a　few　minutes'　silence；　Heidi　asked；　〃What　could　I　take　back　to　her？〃

〃We　must　think　of　something　nice；〃　answered　Dete；　〃a　soft　roll　of　white　bread；　she　would　enjoy　that；　for　now　she　is　old　she　can　hardly　eat　the　hard；　black　bread。〃

〃No；　she　always　gives　it　back　to　Peter；　telling　him　it　is　too　hard；　for　I　have　seen　her　do　it　myself；〃　affirmed　Heidi。　〃Do　let　us　make　haste；　for　then　perhaps　we　can　get　back　soon　from　Frankfurt；　and　I　shall　be　able　to　give　her　the　white　bread　to…day。〃　And　Heidi　started　off　running　so　fast　that　Dete　with　the　bundle　under　her　arm　could　scarcely　keep　up　with　her。　But　she　was　glad；　nevertheless；　to　get　along　so　quickly；　for　they　were　nearing　Dorfli；　where　her　friends　would　probably　talk　and　question　in　a　way　that　might　put　other　ideas　into　Heidi's　head。　So　she　went　on　straight　ahead　through　the　village；　holding　Heidi　tightly　by　the　hand；　so　that　they　might　all　see　that　it　was　on　the　child's　account　she　was　hurrying　along　at　such　a　rate。　To　all　their　questions　and　remarks　she　made　answer　as　she　passed　〃I　can't　stop　now；　as　you　see；　I　must　make　haste　with　the　child　as　we　have　yet　some　way　to　go。〃

〃Are　you　taking　her　away？〃　〃Is　she　running　away　from　Alm…Uncle？〃　〃It's　a　wonder　she　is　still　alive！〃　〃But　what　rosy　cheeks　she　has！〃　Such　were　the　words　which　rang　out　on　all　sides；　and　Dete　was　thankful　that　she　had　not　to　stop　and　give　any　distinct　answers　to　them；　while　Heidi　hurried　eagerly　forward　without　saying　a　word。

From　that　day　forward　Alm…Uncle　looked　fiercer　and　more　forbidding　than　ever　when　he　came　down　and　passed　through　Dorfli。　He　spoke　to　no　one；　and　looked　such　an　ogre　as　he　came　along　with　his　pack　of　cheeses　on　his　back；　his　immense　stick　in　his　hand；　and　his　thick；　frowning　eyebrows；　that　the　women　would　call　to　their　little　ones；　〃Take　care！　get　out　of　Alm…Uncle's　way　or　he　may　hurt　you！〃

The　old　man　took　no　notice　of　anybody　as　he　strode　through　the　village　on　his　way　to　the　valley　below；　where　he　sold　his　cheeses　and　bought　what　bread　and　meat　he　wanted　for　himself。　After　he　had　passed　the　villagers　all　crowded　together　looking　after　him；　and　each　had　something　to　say　about　him；　how　much　wilder　he　looked　than　usual；　how　now　he　would　not　even　respond　to　anybody's　greeting；　while　they　all　agreed　that　it　was　a　great　mercy　the　child　had　got　away　from　him；　and　had　they　not　all　noticed　how　the　child　had　hurried　along　as　if　afraid　that　her　grandfather　might　be　following　to　take　her　back？　Only　the　blind　grandmother　would　have　nothing　to　say　against　him；　and　told　those　who　came　to　her　to　bring　her　work；　or　take　away　what　she　had　spun；　how　kind　and　thoughtful　he　had　been　with　the　child；　how　good　to　her　and　her　daughter；　and　how　many　afternoons　he　had　spent　mending　the　house　which；　but　for　his　help；　would　certainly　by　this　time　have　fallen　down　over　their　heads。　And　all　this　was　repeated　down　in　Dorfli；　but　most　of　the　people　who　heard　it　said　that　grandmother　was　too　old　to　understand；　and　very　likely　had　not　heard　rightly　what　was　said；　as　she　was　blind　she　was　probably　also　deaf。

Alm…Uncle　went　no　more　now　to　the　grandmother's　house；　and　it　was　well　that　he　had　made　it　so　safe；　for　it　was　not　touched　again　for　a　long　time。　The　days　were　sad　again　now　for　the　old　blind　woman；　and　not　one　passed　but　what　she　would　murmur　complainingly；　〃Alas！　all　our　happiness　and　pleasure　have　gone　with　the　child；　and　now　the　days　are　so　long　and　dreary！　Pray　God；　I　see　Heidi　again　once　more　before　I　die！〃



CHAPTER　VI。　A　NEW　CHAPTER　ABOUT　NEW　THINGS

In　her　home　at　Frankfurt；　Clara；　the　little　daughter　of　Herr　Sesemann；　was　lying　on　the　invalid　couch　on　which　she　spent　her　whole　day；　being　wheeled　in　it　from　room　to　room。　Just　now　she　was　in　what　was　known　as　the　study；　where；　to　judge　by　the　various　things　standing　and　lying　about；　which　added　to　the　cosy　appearance　of　the　room；　the　family　was　fond　of　sitting。　A　handsome　bookcase　with　glass　doors　explained　why　it　was　called　the　study；　and　here　evidently　the　little　girl　was　accustomed　to　have　her　lessons。

Clara's　little　face　was　thin　and　pale；　and　at　this　moment　her　two　soft　blue　eyes　were　fixed　on　the　clock；　which　seemed　to　her　to　go　very　slowly　this　day；　and　with　a　slight　accent　of　impatience；　which　was　very　rare　with　her；　she　asked；　〃Isn't　it　time　yet；　Fraulein　Rottenmeier？〃

This　lady　was　sitting　very　upright　at　a　small　work…table；　busy　with　her　embroidery。　She　had　on　a　mysterious…looking　loose　garment；　a　large　collar　or　shoulder…cape　that　gave　a　certain　solemnity　to　her　appearance；　which　was　enhanced　by　a　very　lofty　dome…shaped　head　dress。　For　many　years　past；　since　the　mistress　of　the　house　had　died；　the　housekeeping　and　the　superintendence　of　the　servants　had　been　entrusted　by　Herr　Sesemann　to　Fraulein　Rottenmeier。　He　himself　was　often　away　from　home；　and　he　left　her　in　sole　charge；　with　the　condition　only　that　his　little　daughter　should　have　a　voice　in　all　matters；　and　that　nothing　should　be　done　against　her　wish。

As　Clara　was　putting　her　impatient　question　for　the　second　time；　Dete　and　Heidi　arrived　at　the　front　door；　and　the　former　inquired　of　the　coachman；　who　had　just　got　down　from　his　box；　if　it　was　too　late　to　see　Fraulein　Rottenmeier。

〃That's　not　my　business；〃　grumbled　the　coachman；　〃ring　the　bell　in　the　hall　for　Sebastian。〃

Dete　did　so；　and　Sebastian　came　downstairs；　he　looked　astonished　when　he　saw　her；　opening　his　eyes　till　they　were　nearly　as　big　as　the　large　round　buttons　on　his　coat。

〃Is　it　too　late　for　me　to　see　Fraulein　Rottenmeier？〃　Dete　asked　again。

〃That's　not　my　business；〃　answered　the　man；　〃ring　that　other　bell　for　the　maid　Tinette；〃　and　without　troubling　himself　any　farther　Sebastian　disappeared。

Dete　rang　again。　This　time　Tinette　appeared　with　a　spotless　white　cap　perched　on　the　top　of　her　head　and　a　mocking　expression　of　face。

〃What　is　it？〃　she　called　from　the　top　of　the　stairs。　Dete　repeated　her　question。　Tinette　disappeared；　but　soon　came　back　and　called　down　again　to　Dete；　〃Come　up；　she　is　expecting　you。〃

Dete　and　Heidi　went　upstairs　and　into　the　study；　Tinette　following。　Dete　remained　standing　politely　near　the　door；　still　holding　Heidi　tightly　by　the　hand；　for　she　did　not　know　what　the　child　might　take　it　into　her　head　to　do　amid　these　new　surroundings。

Fraulein　Rottenmeier　rose　slowly　and　went　up　to　the　little　new　companion　for　the　daughter　of　the　house；　to　see　what　she　was　like。　She　did　not　seem　very　pleased　with　her　appearance。　Heidi　was　dressed　in　her　plain　little　woollen　frock；　and　her　hat　was　an　old　straw　one　bent　out　of　shape。　The　child　looked　innocently　out　from　beneath　it；　gazing　with　unconcealed　astonishment　at　the　lady's　towering　head　dress。

〃What　is　your　name？〃　asked　Fraulen　Rottenmeier；　after　scrutinisingly　examining　the　child　for　some　minutes；　while　Heidi　in　return　kept　her　eyes　steadily　fixed　upon　the　lady。

〃Heidi；〃　she　answered　in　a　clear；　ringing　voice。

〃What？　what？　that's　no　Christian　name　for　a　child；　you　were　not　christened　that。　What　name　did　they　give　you　when　you　were　baptized？〃　continued　Frauleln　Rottenmeier。

〃I　do　not　remember；〃　replied　Heidi。

〃What　a　way　to　answer！〃　said　the　lady；　shaking　her　head。　〃Dete；　is　the　child　a　simpleton　or　only　saucy？〃

〃If　the　lady　will　allow　me；　I　will　speak　for　the　child；　for　she　is　very　unaccustomed　to　strangers；〃　said　Dete；　who　had　given　Heidi　a　silent　poke　for　making　such　an　unsuitable　answer。　〃She　is　certainly　not　stupid　nor　yet　saucy；　she　does　not　know　what　it　means　even；　she　speaks　exactly　as　she　thinks。　To…day　she　is　for　the　first　time　in　a　gentleman's　house　and　she　does　not　know　good　manners；　but　she　is　docile　and　very　willing　to　learn；　if　the　lady　will　kindly　make　excuses　for　her。　She　was　christened　Adelaide；　after　her　mother；　my　sister；　who　is　now　dead。〃

〃Well；　that's　a　name　that　one　can　pronounce；〃　remarked　Fraulein　Rottenmeier。　〃But　I　must　tell　you；　Dete；　that　I　am　astonished　to　see　so　young　a　child。　I　told　you　that　I　wanted　a　companion　of