at home in the hut。 But then she would hear her grandfather's voice outside； attending to the goats； and these would give one or two loud bleats； as if calling to her to make haste and go to them； and then Heidi was happy again； for she knew she was still at home； and she would jump gladly out of bed and run out to the animals as quickly as she could。 On the fourth morning； as soon as she saw her grandfather； she said； 〃I must go up to see grandmother to…day； she ought not to be alone so long。〃
But the grandfather would not agree to this。 〃Neither to…day nor to…morrow can you go；〃 he said； 〃the mountain is covered fathom…deep in snow； and the snow is still falling； the sturdy Peter can hardly get along。 A little creature like you would soon be smothered by it； and we should not be able to find you again。 Wait a bit till it freezes； then you will be able to walk over the hard snow。〃
Heidi did not like the thought of having to wait； but the days were so busy that she hardly knew how they went by。
Heidi now went to school in Dorfli every morning and afternoon； and eagerly set to work to learn all that was taught her。 She hardly ever saw Peter there； for as a rule he was absent。 The teacher was an easy…going man who merely remarked now and then； 〃Peter is not turning up to…day again； it seems； but there is a lot of snow up on the mountain and I daresay he cannot get along。〃 Peter； however； always seemed able to make his way through the snow in the evening when school was over； and he then generally paid Heidi a visit。
At last； after some days； the sun again appeared and shone brightly over the white ground； but he went to bed again behind the mountains at a very early hour； as if he did not find such pleasure in looking down on the earth as when everything was green and flowery。 But then the moon came out clear and large and lit up the great white snowfield all through the night； and the next morning the whole mountain glistened and sparkled like a huge crystal。 When Peter got out of his window as usual； he was taken by surprise； for instead of sinking into the soft snow he fell on the hard ground and went sliding some way down the mountain side like a sleigh before he could stop himself。 He picked himself up and tested the hardness of the ground by stamping on it and trying with all his might to dig his heels into it； but even then he could not break off a single little splinter of ice； the Alm was frozen hard as iron。 This was just what Peter had been hoping for； as he knew now that Heidi would be able to come up to them。 He quickly got back into the house； swallowed the milk which his mother had put ready for him； thrust a piece of bread in his pocket； and said； 〃I must be off to school。〃 〃That's right； go and learn all you can；〃 said the grandmother encouragingly。 Peter crept through the window againthe door was quite blocked by the frozen snow outsidepulling his little sleigh after him； and in another minute was shooting down the mountain。
He went like lightning； and when he reached Dorfli； which stood on the direct road to Mayenfeld； he made up his mind to go on further； for he was sure he could not stop his rapid descent without hurting himself and the sleigh too。 So down he still went till he reached the level ground； where the sleigh came to a pause of its own accord。 Then he got out and looked round。 The impetus with which he had made his journey down had carried him some little way beyond Mayenfeld。 He bethought himself that it was too late to get to school now； as lessons would already have begun； and it would take him a good hour to walk back to Dorfli。 So he might take his time about returning； which he did； and reached Dorfli just as Heidi had got home from school and was sitting at dinner with her grandfather。 Peter walked in； and as on this occasion he had something particular to communicate； he began without a pause； exclaiming as he stood still in the middle of the room； 〃She's got it now。〃
〃Got it？ what？〃 asked the Uncle。 〃Your words sound quite warlike； general。〃
〃The frost；〃 explained Peter。
〃Oh！ then now I can go and see grandmother！〃 said Heidi joyfully； for she had understood Peter's words at once。 〃But why were you not at school then？ You could have come down in the sleigh；〃 she added reproachfully； for it did not agree with Heidi's ideas of good behavior to stay away when it was possible to be there。
〃It carried me on too far and I was too late；〃 Peter replied。
〃I call that being a deserter；〃 said the Uncle； 〃and deserters get their ears pulled； as you know。〃
Peter gave a tug to his cap in alarm； for there was no one of whom he stood in so much awe as Alm…Uncle。
〃And an army leader like yourself ought to be doubly ashamed of running away；〃 continued Alm…Uncle。 〃What would you think of your goats if one went off this way and another that； and refused to follow and do what was good for them？ What would you do then？〃
〃I should beat them；〃 said Peter promptly。
〃And if a boy behaved like these unruly goats； and he got a beating for it； what would you say then？〃
〃Serve him right；〃 was the answer。
〃Good； then understand this： next time you let your sleigh carry you past the school when you ought to be inside at your lessons； come on to me afterwards and receive what you deserve。〃
Peter now understood the drift of the old man's questions and that he was the boy who behaved like the unruly goats； and he looked somewhat fearfully towards the corner to see if anything happened to be there such as he used himself on such occasions for the punishment of his animals。
But now the grandfather suddenly said in a cheerful voice； 〃Come and sit down and have something； and afterwards Heidi shall go with you。 Bring her back this evening and you will find supper waiting for you here。〃
This unexpected turn of conversation set Peter grinning all over with delight。 He obeyed without hesitation and took his seat beside Heidi。 But the child could not eat any more in her excitement at the thought of going to see grandmother。 She pushed the potatoes and toasted cheese which still stood on her plate towards him while Uncle was filling his plate from the other side； so that he had quite a pile of food in front of him； but he attacked it without any lack of courage。 Heidi ran to the cupboard and brought out the warm cloak Clara had sent her； with this on and the hood drawn over her head； she was all ready for her journey。 She stood waiting beside Peter； and as soon as his last mouthful had disappeared she said； 〃Come along now。〃 As the two walked together Heidi had much to tell Peter of her two goats that had been so unhappy the first day in their new stall that they would not eat anything； but stood hanging their heads； not even rousing themselves to bleat。 And when she asked her grandfather the reason of this； he told her it was with them as with her in Frankfurt； for it was the first time in their lives they had come down from the mountain。 〃And you don't know what that is； Peter； unless you have felt it yourself；〃 added Heidi。
The children had nearly reached their destination before Peter opened his mouth； he appeared to be so sunk in thought that he hardly heard what was said to him。 As they neared home； however； he stood still and said in a somewhat sullen voice； 〃I had rather go to school even than get what Uncle threatened。〃
Heidi was of the same mind； and encouraged him in his good intention。 They found Brigitta sitting alone knitting； for the grandmother was not very well and had to stay the day in bed on account of the cold。 Heidi had never before missed the old figure in her place in the corner； and she ran quickly into the next room。 There lay grandmother on her little poorly covered bed； wrapped up in her warm grey shawl。
〃Thank God；〃 she exclaimed as Heidi came running in； the poor old woman had had a secret fear at heart all through the autumn； especially if Heidi was absent for any length of time； for Peter had told her of a strange gentleman who had come from Frankfurt； and who had gone out with them and always talked to Heidi； and she had felt sure he had come to take her away again。 Even when she heard he had gone off alone； she still had an idea that a messenger would be sent over from Frankfurt to fetch the child。 Heidi went up to the side of the bed and said； 〃Are you very ill； grandmother？〃
〃No； no； child；〃 answered the old woman reassuringly； passing her hand lovingly over the child's head； 〃It's only the frost that has got into my bones a bit。〃
〃Shall you be quite well then directly it turns warm again？〃
〃Yes； God willing； or even before that； for I want to get back to my spinning； I thought perhaps I should do a little to…day； but to…morrow I am sure to be all right again。〃 The old woman had detected that Heidi was frightened and was anxious to set her mind at ease。
Her words comforted Heidi； who had in truth been greatly distressed； for she had never before seen the grandmother ill in bed。 She now looked at the old woman seriously for a minute or two； and then said； 〃In Frankfurt everybody puts on a shawl to go out walking； did you think it was to be worn in bed； grandmother？〃
〃I put it on； dear child； to keep myself from freezing； and I am so pleased with it； for my bedclothes are not very thick；〃 she answered。
〃But； grandmother；〃 continued Heidi； 〃your bed is not right； because it goes downhill at your head instead of uphill。〃
〃I know it； child； I can feel it；〃 and the grandmother put up her hand to the thin flat pillow； which was little more than a board under her head； to make herself more comfortable； 〃the pillow was never very thick； and I have lain on it now for so many years that it has grown quite flat。〃
〃Oh； if only I had asked Clara to let me take away my Frankfurt bed；〃 said Heidi。 〃I had three large pillows； one above the other； so that I could hardly sleep； and I used to slip down to try and find a flat place； and then I had to pull myself up again； because it was proper to sleep there like that。 Could you sleep like that； grandmother？〃
〃Oh； yes！ the pillows keep one warm； and it is easier to breathe when the head is high；〃 answered the grandmother； wearily raising her head as she spoke as if trying to find a higher r