ntains peaks lifted their lofty heads against the sky and looked solemnly down upon the valley as of old； the great bird was poised aloft in the clear blue air； and the mountain wind came over the heights and blew refreshingly around the children as they sat on the sunlit slope。 It was all indescribably enjoyable to Clara and Heidi。 Now and again a young goat came and lay down beside them； Snowflake came oftenest； putting her little head down near Heidi； and only moving because another goat came and drove her away。 Clara had learned to know them all so well that she never mistook one for the other now； for each had an expression and ways of its own。 And the goats had also grown familiar with Clara and would rub their heads against her shoulder； which was always a sign of acquaintanceship and goodwill。
Some hours went by； and Heidi began to think that she might just go over to the spot where all the flowers grew to see if they were fully blown and looking as lovely as the year before。 Clara could not go until grandfather came back that evening； when the flowers probably would be already closed。 The longing to go became stronger and stronger； till she felt she could not resist it。
〃Would you think me unkind； Clara；〃 she said rather hesitatingly； 〃if I left you for a few minutes？ I should run there and back very quickly。 I want so to see how the flowers are lookingbut wait〃 for an idea had come into Heidi's head。 She ran and picked a bunch or two of green leaves； and then took hold of Snowflake and led her up to Clara。
〃There； now you will not be alone；〃 said Heidi； giving the goat a little push to show her she was to lie down near Clara； which the animal quite understood。 Heidi threw the leaves into Clara's lap； and the latter told her friend to go at once to look at the flowers as she was quite happy to be left with the goat； she liked this new experience。 Heidi ran off； and Clara began to hold out the leaves one by one to Snowflake； who snoozled up to her new friend in a confiding manner and slowly ate the leaves from her hand。 It was easy to see that Snowflake enjoyed this peaceful and sheltered way of feeding； for when with the other goats she had much persecution to endure from the larger and stronger ones of the flock。 And Clara found a strange new pleasure in sitting all alone like this on the mountain side； her only companion a little goat that looked to her for protection。 She suddenly felt a great desire to be her own mistress and to be able to help others； instead of herself being always dependent as she was now。 Many thoughts； unknown to her before； came crowding into her mind； and a longing to go on living in the sunshine； and to be doing something that would bring happiness to another； as now she was helping to make the goat happy。 An unaccustomed feeling of joy took possession of her； as if everything she had ever known or felt became all at once more beautiful； and she seemed to see all things in a new light； and so strong was the sense of this new beauty and happiness that she threw her arms round the little goat's neck； and exclaimed； 〃O Snowflake； how delightful it is up here！ if only I could stay on for ever with you beside me！〃
Heidi had meanwhile reached her field of flowers； and as she caught sight of it she uttered a cry of joy。 The whole ground in front of her was a mass of shimmering gold； where the cistus flowers spread their yellow blossoms。 Above them waved whole bushes of the deep blue bell…flowers； while the fragrance that arose from the whole sunlit expanse was as if the rarest balsam had been flung over it。 The scent； however； came from the small brown flowers； the little round heads of which rose modestly here and there among the yellow blossoms。 Heidi stood and gazed and drew in the delicious air。 Suddenly she turned round and reached Clara's side out of breath with running and excitement。 〃Oh； you must come；〃 she called out as soon as she came in sight； 〃it is more beautiful than you can imagine； and perhaps this evening it may not be so lovely。 I believe I could carry you； don't you think I could？〃 Clara looked at her and shook her head。 〃Why； Heidi； what can you be thinking of！ you are smaller than I am。 Oh； if only I could walk！〃
Heidi looked round as if in search of something； some new idea had evidently come into her head。 Peter was sitting up above looking down on the two children。 He had been sitting and staring before him in the same way for hours； as if he could not make out what he saw。 He had destroyed the chair so that the friend might not be able to move anywhere and that her visit might come to an end； and then a little while after she had appeared right up here under his very nose with Heidi beside her。 He thought his eyes must deceive him； and yet there she was and no mistake about it。
Heidi now looked up to where he was sitting and called out in a peremptory voice； 〃Peter； come down here！〃
〃I don't wish to come；〃 he called in reply。
〃But you are to； you must； I cannot do it alone； and you must come here and help me； make haste and come down；〃 she called again in an urgent voice；
〃I shall do nothing of the kind；〃 was the answer。
Heidi ran some way up the slope towards him； and then pausing called again； her eyes ablaze with anger； 〃If you don't come at once； Peter； I will do something to you that you won't like； I mean what I say。〃
Peter felt an inward throe at these words； and a great fear seized him。 He had done something wicked which he wanted no one to know about； and so far he had thought himself safe。 But now Heidi spoke exactly as if she knew everything； and whatever she did know she would tell her grandfather； and there was no one he feared so much as this latter person。 Supposing he were to suspect what had happened about the chair！ Peter's anguish of mind grew more acute。 He stood up and went down to where Heidi was awaiting him。
〃I am coming and you won't do what you said。〃
Peter appeared now so submissive with fear that Heidi felt quite sorry for him and answered assuringly； 〃No； no； of course not； come along with me； there is nothing to be afraid of in what I want you to do。〃
As soon as they got to Clara； Heidi gave her orders： Peter was to take hold of her under the arms on one side and she on the other； and together they were to lift her up。 This first movement was successfully carried through； but then came the difficulty。 As Clara could not even stand； how were they to support her and get her along？ Heidi was too small for her arm to serve Clara to lean upon。
〃You must put one arm well around my neck so； and put the other through Peter's and lean firmly upon it； then we shall be able to carry you。〃
Peter； however； had never given his arm to any one in his life。 Clara put hers in his； but he kept his own hanging down straight beside him like a stick。
〃That's not the way； Peter；〃 said Heidi in an authoritative voice。 〃You must put your arm out in the shape of a ring； and Clara must put hers through it and lean her weight upon you； and whatever you do； don't let your arm give way； like that。 I am sure we shall be able to manage。〃
Peter did as he was told； but still they did not get on very well。 Clara was not such a light weight； and the team did not match very well in size； it was up one side and down the other； so that the supports were rather wobbly。
Clara tried to use her own feet a little； but each time drew them quickly back。
〃Put your foot down firmly once；〃 suggested Heidi； 〃I am sure it will hurt you less after that。〃
〃Do you think so？〃 said Clara hesitatingly； but she followed Heidi's advice and ventured one firm step on the ground and then another； she called out a little as she did it； then she lifted her foot again and went on； 〃Oh； that was less painful already；〃 she exclaimed joyfully。
〃Try again；〃 said Heidi encouragingly。
And Clara went on putting one foot out after another until all at once she called out； 〃I can do it； Heidi！ look！ look！ I can make proper steps！〃 And Heidi cried out with even greater delight； 〃Can you really make steps； can you really walk？ really walk by yourself？ Oh； if only grandfather were here！〃 and she continued gleefully to exclaim； 〃You can walk now； Clara； you can walk！〃
Clara still held on firmly to her supports； but with every step she felt safer on her feet； as all three became aware； and Heidi was beside herself with joy。
〃Now we shall be able to come up here together every day； and go just where we like； and you will be able all your life to walk about as I do； and not have to be pushed in a chair； and you will get quite strong and well。 It is the greatest happiness we could have had！〃
And Clara heartily agreed； for she could think of no greater joy in the world than to be strong and able to go about like other people； and no longer to have to lie from day to day in her invalid chair。
They had not far to go to reach the field of flowers； and could already catch sight of the cistus flowers glowing gold in the sun。 As they came to the bushes of the blue bell flowers； with sunny； inviting patches of warm ground between them； Clara said； 〃Mightn't we sit down here for a while？〃
This was just what Heidi enjoyed； and so the children sat down in the midst of the flowers； Clara for the first time on the dry； warm mountain grass； and she found it indescribably delightful。 Around her were the blue flowers softly waving to and fro； and beyond the gleaming patches of the cistus flowers and the red centaury； while the sweet scent of the brown blossoms and of the fragrant prunella enveloped her as she sat。 Everything was so lovely！ so lovely！ And Heidi； who was beside her； thought she had never seen it so perfectly beautiful up here before； and she did not know herself why she felt so glad at heart that she longed to shout for joy。 Then she suddenly remembered that Clara was cured； that was the crowning delight of all that made life so delightful in the midst of all this surrounding beauty。 Clara sat silent； overcome with the enchantment of all that her eye rested upon； and with the anticipation of all the happiness that was now before her。 There seemed hardly room in her heart for all her joyful emotions； and these and the ecstasy aroused by the sunlight and th