heidi- 第24部分

On　reaching　Heidi's　room　the　doctor　put　the　candle　down　on　the　table；　and　taking　Heidi　up　in　his　arms　laid　her　on　the　bed　and　carefully　covered　her　over。　Then　he　sat　down　beside　her　and　waited　until　Heidi　had　grown　quieter　and　no　longer　trembled　so　violently。　He　took　her　hand　and　said　in　a　kind；　soothing　voice；　〃There；　now　you　feel　better；　and　now　tell　me　where　you　were　wanting　to　go　to？〃

〃I　did　not　want　to　go　anywhere；〃　said　Heidi。　〃I　did　not　know　I　went　downstairs；　but　all　at　once　I　was　there。〃

〃I　see；　and　had　you　been　dreaming；　so　that　you　seemed　to　see　and　hear　something　very　distinctly？〃

〃Yes；　I　dream　every　night；　and　always　about　the　same　things。　I　think　I　am　back　with　the　grandfather　and　I　hear　the　sound　in　the　fir　trees　outside；　and　I　see　the　stars　shining　so　brightly；　and　then　I　open　the　door　quickly　and　run　out；　and　it　is　all　so　beautiful！　But　when　I　wake　I　am　still　in　Frankfurt。〃　And　Heidi　struggled　as　she　spoke　to　keep　back　the　sobs　which　seemed　to　choke　her。

〃And　have　you　no　pain　anywhere？　no　pain　in　your　head　or　back？〃

〃No；　only　a　feeling　as　if　there　were　a　great　stone　weighing　on　me　here。〃

〃As　if　you　had　eaten　something　that　would　not　go　down。〃

〃No；　not　like　that；　something　heavy　as　if　I　wanted　to　cry　very　much。〃

〃I　see；　and　then　do　you　have　a　good　cry？〃

〃Oh；　no；　I　mustn't；　Fraulein　Rottenmeier　forbade　me　to　cry。〃

〃So　you　swallow　it　all　down；　I　suppose？　Are　you　happy　here　in　Frankfurt？〃

〃Yes；〃　was　the　low　answer；　but　it　sounded　more　like　〃No。〃

〃And　where　did　you　live　with　your　grandfather？〃

〃Up　on　the　mountain。〃

〃That　wasn't　very　amusing；　rather　dull　at　times；　eh？〃

〃No；　no；　it　was　beautiful；　beautiful！〃　Heidi　could　go　no　further；　the　remembrance　of　the　past；　the　excitement　she　had　just　gone　through；　the　long　suppressed　weeping；　were　too　much　for　the　child's　strength；　the　tears　began　to　fall　fast；　and　she　broke　into　violent　weeping。

The　doctor　stood　up　and　laid　her　head　kindly　down　on　the　pillow。　〃There；　there；　go　on　crying；　it　will　do　you　good；　and　then　go　to　sleep；　it　will　be　all　right　to…morrow。〃

Then　he　left　the　room　and　went　downstairs　to　Herr　Sesemann；　when　he　was　once　more　sitting　in　the　armchair　opposite　his　friend；　〃Sesemann；〃　he　said；　〃let　me　first　tell　you　that　your　little　charge　is　a　sleep…walker；　she　is　the　ghost　who　has　nightly　opened　the　front　door　and　put　your　household　into　this　fever　of　alarm。　Secondly；　the　child　is　consumed　with　homesickness；　to　such　an　extent　that　she　is　nearly　a　skeleton　already；　and　soon　will　be　quite　one；　something　must　be　done　at　once。　For　the　first　trouble；　due　to　her　over…excited　nerves；　there　is　but　one　remedy；　to　send　her　back　to　her　native　mountain　air；　and　for　the　second　trouble　there　is　also　but　one　cure；　and　that　the　same。　So　to…morrow　the　child　must　start　for　home；　there　you　have　my　prescription。〃

Herr　Sesemann　had　arisen　and　now　paced　up　and　down　the　room　in　the　greatest　state　of　concern。

〃What！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃the　child　a　sleep…walker　and　ill！　Home…sick；　and　grown　emaciated　in　my　house！　All　this　has　taken　place　in　my　house　and　no　one　seen　or　known　anything　about　it！　And　you　mean；　doctor；　that　the　child　who　came　here　happy　and　healthy；　I　am　to　send　back　to　her　grandfather　a　miserable　little　skeleton？　I　can't　do　it；　you　cannot　dream　of　my　doing　such　a　thing！　Take　the　child　in　hand；　do　with　her　what　you　will；　and　make　her　whole　and　sound；　and　then　she　shall　go　home；　but　you　must　do　something　first。〃

〃Sesemann；〃　replied　the　doctor；　〃consider　what　you　are　doing！　This　illness　of　the　child's　is　not　one　to　be　cured　with　pills　and　powders。　The　child　has　not　a　tough　constitution；　but　if　you　send　her　back　at　once　she　may　recover　in　the　mountain　air；　if　not　you　would　rather　she　went　back　ill　than　not　at　all？〃

Herr　Sesemann　stood　still；　the　doctor's　words　were　a　shock　to　him。

〃If　you　put　it　so；　doctor；　there　is　assuredly　only　one　wayand　the　thing　must　be　seen　to　at　once。〃　And　then　he　and　the　doctor　walked　up　and　down　for　a　while　arranging　what　to　do；　after　which　the　doctor　said　good…bye；　for　some　time　had　passed　since　they　first　sat　down　together；　and　as　the　master　himself　opened　the　hall　door　this　time　the　morning　light　shone　down　through　it　into　the　house。



CHAPTER　XIII。　　A　SUMMER　EVENING　ON　THE　MOUNTAIN

Herr　Sesemann；　a　good　deal　irritated　and　excited；　went　quickly　upstairs　and　along　the　passage　to　Fraulein　Rottenmeier's　room；　and　there　gave　such　an　unusually　loud　knock　at　the　door　that　the　lady　awoke　from　sleep　with　a　cry　of　alarm。　She　heard　the　master　of　the　house　calling　to　her　from　the　other　side　of　the　door；　〃Please　make　haste　and　come　down　to　me　in　the　dining…room；　we　must　make　ready　for　a　journey　at　once。〃　Fraulein　Rottenmeier　looked　at　her　clock：　it　was　just　half…past　four；　she　had　never　got　up　so　early　before　in　her　life。　What　could　have　happened？　What　with　her　curiosity　and　excitement　she　took　hold　of　everything　the　wrong　way；　and　it　was　a　case　with　her　of　more　haste　less　speed；　for　she　kept　on　searching　everywhere　for　garments　which　she　had　already　put　on。

Meanwhile　Herr　Sesemann　had　gone　on　farther　and　rung　the　bells　in　turn　which　communicated　with　the　several　servants'　rooms；　causing　frightened　figures　to　leap　out　of　bed；　convinced　that　the　ghost　had　attacked　the　master　and　that　he　was　calling　for　help。　One　by　one　they　made　their　appearance　in　the　dining…room；　each　with　a　more　terrified　face　than　the　last；　and　were　astonished　to　see　their　master　walking　up　and　down；　looking　well　and　cheerful；　and　with　no　appearance　of　having　had　an　encounter　with　a　ghost。　John　was　sent　off　without　delay　to　get　the　horses　and　carriage　ready；　Tinette　was　ordered　to　wake　Heidi　and　get　her　dressed　for　a　journey；　Sebastian　was　hurried　off　to　the　house　where　Dete　was　in　service　to　bring　the　latter　round。　Then　Fraulein　Rottenmeier；　having　at　last　accomplished　her　toilet；　came　down；　with　everything　well　adjusted　about　her　except　her　cap；　which　was　put　on　hind　side　before。　Herr　Sesemann　put　down　her　flurried　appearance　to　the　early　awakening　he　had　caused　her；　and　began　without　delay　to　give　her　directions。　She　was　to　get　out　a　trunk　at　once　and　pack　up　all　the　things　belonging　to　the　Swiss　childfor　so　he　usually　spoke　of　Heidi；　being　unaccustomed　to　her　nameand　a　good　part　of　Clara's　clothes　as　well；　so　that　the　child　might　take　home　proper　apparel；　but　everything　was　to　be　done　immediately；　as　there　was　no　time　for　consideration。

Fraulein　Rottenmeier　stood　as　if　rooted　to　the　spot　and　stared　in　astonishment　at　Herr　Sesemann。　She　had　quite　expected　a　long　and　private　account　of　some　terrible　ghostly　experience　of　his　during　the　night；　which　she　would　have　enjoyed　hearing　about　in　the　broad　daylight。　Instead　of　this　there　were　these　prosaic　and　troublesome　directions；　which　were　so　unexpected　that　she　took　some　time　to　get　over　her　surprise　and　disappointment；　and　continued　standing　awaiting　further　explanation。

But　Herr　Sesemann　had　no　thought　or　time　for　explanations　and　left　her　standing　there　while　he　went　to　speak　to　Clara。　As　he　anticipated；　the　unusual　commotion　in　the　house　had　disturbed　her；　and　she　was　lying　and　listening　and　wondering　what　had　happened。　So　he　sat　down　and　told　her　everything　that　had　occurred　during　the　past　night；　and　explained　that　the　doctor　had　given　his　verdict　and　pronounced　Heidi　to　be　in　a　very　highly　strung　state；　so　that　her　nightly　wanderings　might　gradually　lead　her　farther　and　farther；　perhaps　even　on　to　the　roof；　which　of　course　would　be　very　dangerous　for　her。　And　so　they　had　decided　to　send　her　home　at　once；　as　he　did　not　like　to　take　the　responsibility　of　her　remaining；　and　Clara　would　see　for　herself　that　it　was　the　only　thing　to　do。　Clara　was　very　much　distressed；　and　at　first　made　all　kinds　of　suggestions　for　keeping　Heidi　with　her；　but　her　father　was　firm；　and　promised　her；　if　she　would　be　reasonable　and　make　no　further　fuss；　that　he　would　take　her　to　Switzerland　next　summer。　So　Clara　gave　in　to　the　inevitable；　only　stipulating　that　the　box　might　be　brought　into　her　room　to　be　packed；　so　that　she　might　add　whatever　she　liked；　and　her　father　was　only　too　pleased　to　let　her　provide　a　nice　outfit　for　the　child。　Meanwhile　Dete　had　arrived　and　was　waiting　in　the　hall；　wondering　what　extraordinary　event　had　come　to　pass　for　her　to　be　sent　for　at　such　an　unusual　hour。　Herr　Sesemann　informed　her　of　the　state　Heidi　was　in；　and　that　he　wished　her　that　very　day　to　take　her　home。　Dete　was　greatly　disappointed；　for　she　had　not　expected　such　a　piece　of　news。　She　remembered　Uncle's　last　words；　that　he　never　wished　to　set　eyes　on　her　again；　and　it　seemed　to　her　that　to　take　back　the　child　to　him；　after　having　left　it　with　him　once　and　then　taken　it　away　again；　was　not　a　safe　or　wise　thing　for　her　to　do。　So　she　excused　herself　to　Herr　Sesemann　with　her　usual　flow　of　words；　to…day　and　to…morrow　it　would　be　quite　impossible　for　her　to　take　the　journey；　and　there　was　so　much　to　do　that　she　doubted　if　she　could　get　off　on　any　of　the　following　days。　Herr　Sesemann　understood　that　she　was　unwilling　to　go　at　all；　and　so　dismissed　her。　Then　he　sent　for　Sebastian　and　told　him　to　make　ready　to　start：　he　was　to　travel　with　the　child　as　far　as　Basle　that　day；　and　the　next　day　take　her　home。　He　would　give　him　a　letter　to　carry　to　the　grandfather；　which　would　explain　everything；　and　he　himself　could　come　back　by　return。

〃But　there　is　one　thing　in　particular　which　I　wish　you　to　look　after；〃　said　Herr　Sesemann　in　conclusion；　〃and　be　sure　you　attend　to　what　I　say。　I　know　the　people　of　this　hotel　in　Basle；　the　name　of　which　I　give　you　on　this　card。　They　will　see　to　providing　rooms　for　the　child　and　you。　When　there；　go　at　once　into　the　child's　room　and　see　that　the　windows　are　all　firmly　fastened　so　that　they　cannot　be　easily　opened。　After　the　child　is　in　bed；　lock　the　door　of　her　room　on　the　outside；　for　the　child　walks　in　her　sleep　and　might　run　into　danger　in　a　strange　house　if　she　went　wandering　downstairs　and　tried　to　open　the　front　door；　so　you　understand？〃

〃Oh！　then　that　was　it？〃　exclaimed　Sebastian；　for　now　a　light　was　thrown　on　the　ghostly　visitations。

〃Yes；　that　was　it！　and　you　are　a　coward；　and　you　may　tell　John　he　is　the　same；　and　the　whole　household　a　pack　of　idiots。〃　And　with　this